A newly trained team of 600 Kenyan police officers graduated on Friday, ready for their peacekeeping deployment to Haiti later this month.
The contingent, including an all-female Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, will support the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in restoring peace in the troubled Caribbean nation.
Drawn from specialized units such as the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), and the newly formed all-female SWAT, these officers have undergone extensive combat and tactical training, specifically in urban street combat.
Officials emphasized the value of including female officers to address gender-related cases and handle female suspects with specialized sensitivity and support.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja officially closed the training program at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus on November 8.
Before the full deployment, an assessment team will travel to Haiti to prepare a situational report, which will guide the mission’s logistics and strategy on the ground.
This deployment was discussed in recent talks between President William Ruto and U.S.
President-elect Donald Trump. In their call, Ruto congratulated Trump and highlighted Kenya’s commitment to international peace, noting potential areas for collaboration between Kenya and the U.S. in addressing conflict and enhancing security in Haiti.
“This is a battle we can win,” Ruto stated, underscoring Kenya’s role in the international initiative to curb gang violence and improve security in Haiti.
This deployment reflects Kenya’s growing commitment to international peacekeeping and a strengthened partnership with global allies in conflict resolution.
