Kenyan police officers battling gangs in Haiti may soon get a major boost with plans to deploy more officers from the US and other African countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deployment of officers from the Organisation of American States (OAS) during his address before the US Senate on Tuesday.
"The security situation in Haiti risks worsening if no steps are taken to curb the bandits' activities," Rubio told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The head of US diplomacy announced that he will immediately ask the OAS to lead the multinational force to restore order in Haiti, the Caribbean country that has been badly destabilised by the gangs.
This comes amid fears the mission could stall because of aid and funding cuts by the Donald Trump's administration in the foreign nation.
However, the US moved to allay the fears, insisting they are fully committed towards supporting Kenya and other troops in Haiti.
Rubio signed a consignment of armoured equipment and approved waivers for Ksh5.2 billion (USD40.7 million) to the MSS and Haitian National Police (HNP) on February 5.
"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)," the US Embassy in Haiti later confirmed.
Meanwhile, the OAS has confirmed a major meeting of its 35 member states to deliberate on the Haitian situation, which keeps deteriorating despite the efforts of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti led by Kenya.
A high-level symposium will be held on May 22, 2025, at the Hall of the Americas at the Organisation of American States (OAS) headquarters to identify urgent responses to the security crisis in Haiti.
According to OAS, the meeting follows the April visit by Presidential Advisor H.E. Smith Augustin to OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, reflecting a shared commitment to regional mobilisation in response to the worsening insecurity in Haiti.
''In a context marked by the proliferation of dangerous gangs and the spread of transnational crime, the symposium will bring together Haitian authorities, member state representatives, and experts to discuss practical measures to secure the territory. Special focus will be placed on the impact of organised transnational crime on security and justice institutions, and on strategies to address it through regional cooperation mechanisms, including those outlined in the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism,'' it added.
Kenya has deployed approximately 1,000 police officers to Haiti as part of the United Nations-backed MSS Mission. This deployment includes specialised units such as an elite all-female SWAT team, the General Service Unit, the Administration Police, and other tactical divisions.
