The Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti received a major boost on Monday when the United States (US) donated more equipment to facilitate their efforts to secure Haiti.
In a statement on Tuesday, MSS revealed that the donation had been made through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and included an assortment of vehicles and more.
"Sustaining the momentum, the fight against gangs received a major boost on Monday, February 10, 2025, when the U.S. State Department, through the INL, donated crucial equipment to the HNP (Haiti National Police)," part of the statement read.
Among the vehicles donated were two trucks, nine Toyota and Ford vehicles, and two armoured loaders. The donation also included 600 firearms and other heavy equipment.
This donation came just days after reports of the US pulling out funding for the mission. The US quickly debunked the assertion through their Embassy in Haiti when they confirmed that not all the funding had been paused.
"The United States has not paused all assistance for the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. On the contrary, Secretary Rubio approved waivers to allow for millions of dollars in mission-critical assistance to the MSS mission and Haitian National Police (HNP)," part of the February 6 statement read.
Rubio relayed that the nation had approved waivers for $40.7 million (Ksh5.2 billion in current exchange rates) in foreign assistance to benefit the mission which could be offered mainly through logistical support.
"This includes logistical contracts to support forward operating bases, a vehicle maintenance contract to support the MSS mission fleet, a medical services contract for the HNP, and transportation services for Department of State provided equipment deliveries, and contracts that support subject matter experts with the HNP," Rubio confirmed.
However, the US has still paused the remaining $13.3m (Ksh1.7 billion in current exchange rates) to the UN Trust Fund. In a statement, Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei revealed that the Fund had sufficient resources to continue underwriting the Mission until the end of September 2025 regardless of this setback.
He also added that the mission had support from several other countries including; Canada, France, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Algeria who had already pledged US$110.3 million (Ksh14.2 billion in current exchange rates) by the end of 2024.
This recent US donation comes just a few days after the MSS received three choppers flown in by a Ukrainian cargo plane from El Salvador just 45 minutes after the fourth contingent of Kenyan police officers landed.
The helicopters are designated for medical evacuations (Medevac) and casualty evacuations (Casevac).
