About 400 Police officers who were deployed to Haiti have faced delays in receiving their full payment for the last 2 months
In June, Kenyan police officers were deployed to Haiti as part of a multinational security support mission (MSS) aimed at stabilizing the gang-affected Caribbean nation. The mission is primarily funded by the United States and currently includes about 400 Kenyan officers, many from specialized units.
Despite their challenging assignment, the officers have faced delays in receiving their full pay for the last two months. The MSS acknowledged these delays in an August 25 statement, promising that the missing funds would be deposited into officers’ accounts this week. The MSS reassured the officers that “mainstream processes have been finalized,” so there should be no concerns about their welfare.
The National Police Service (NPS) of Kenya reported in a “progress report” released on Monday that officers continue to receive their regular NPS salaries while waiting for the additional compensation related to their MSS duties.
The delayed payments have caused frustration among the officers, particularly because the deployment is strenuous and restricts their movement to the base in Port-au-Prince during off-duty hours. Some officers expressed their concerns anonymously, stating that they urgently need the money, especially with schools reopening in Kenya.
According to CNN, one officer quoted, “The officers feel frustrated after not having been paid for two months. And we hear that the money has already been sent to Kenya but they haven’t paid us, so please help us out.”
Mission Overview and Funding
- Future Growth of the MSS Force: The MSS force is expected to expand to 2,500 troops, with additional personnel from countries like Jamaica, Benin, Chad, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, and Belize. The force aims to support the Haitian National Police in combating gangs that control approximately 85% of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.
- Humanitarian Impact in Haiti: Gang violence has forced around 600,000 Haitians to flee their homes, with 2 million people living in areas where the threat of attack is constant, according to Haitian interim Prime Minister Garry Conille, who spoke with CNN in early August.
- Financial Backing: The mission is funded through a UN-managed trust fund, with contributions from the US, Canada, France, and Spain. The United States has committed at least $380 million to support the mission, primarily in the form of equipment and materials.
References
- CNN: “Haitian interim Prime Minister Garry Conille interview on gang violence and MSS force”
- National Police Service (NPS) “Progress Report” (August 2023)
- MSS Statement (August 25, 2023)