Kenya’s Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has confirmed that more than 800 Kenyan police officers remain stationed in Haiti as the United Nations transitions the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) into a new operation.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Embakasi Police Campus, Kanja noted that his office has not yet received formal instructions from the UN Security Council regarding Kenya’s role in the newly created Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
“We are waiting for directions from the relevant agencies. Then we will know what will happen. Remember such directions are issued by the UN Security Council,” Kanja said.
The development follows a September 30 vote by the Security Council to replace Kenya as the lead nation in the MSS. The Council approved a resolution, co-authored by the United States and Panama, to create the GSF under a 12-month initial mandate.
The new force, expected to comprise about 5,550 personnel, will work alongside the Haitian National Police (HNP) and Haitian Armed Forces (HAF). Its objectives include neutralizing armed gangs, protecting vulnerable groups, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and enabling humanitarian access.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei welcomed the transition, describing the GSF as a more robust and intelligence-led operation. He said the mission would focus on counter-gang activities designed to weaken criminal networks and create conditions for stability and eventual elections in Haiti.
The GSF will also receive logistical backing from a newly established UN Support Office and coordinate with the Organization of American States. U.S. officials argued that the expanded mission was necessary to give international forces greater flexibility in reducing gang control, which has crippled the country’s security.
Despite the transition, experts warn that coordination may be difficult, as the multinational force will bring together troops and police units without shared training backgrounds.
For now, Kenyan officers remain on the ground, awaiting official communication on their deployment under the new framework.
