Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Kenyan officers deployed to Haiti under the Multinational Security Support mission have raised grave concerns over their working conditions, citing poor leadership, mismanagement, financial hardships, and operational risks that have left them struggling to execute their mandate effectively.
The grievances now being raised come in the wake of the
latest fatality reported on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, when Police
Corporal Benedict Kabiru Kuria was killed in an ambush by gangs in the Lower
Artibonite region, approximately 92 kilometres north of Port-au-Prince.
The incident happened when three armoured vehicles got stuck
in a ditch, which is believed to have been intentionally created by gangs as a
trap for security forces.
Kabiru, who had served in the Border Patrol Unit for nine
years before joining the Haiti mission, was part of a team attempting to rescue
Haitian counterparts whose vehicle had also been trapped.
The gangs took his body, and efforts to recover it are still
ongoing with specialized teams deployed for the operation.
This marks the second death of a Kenyan officer in Haiti
following the killing of Police Constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai on February 23,
2025.
He was fatally shot during an anti-gang operation in the
same region.
The deaths have heightened concerns over the safety of
Kenyan personnel, particularly as reports emerge about logistical failures and
inadequate resources that may be putting them at greater risk.
These grievances paint a picture of a mission that is being
undermined by internal failures, with officers increasingly questioning whether
their role in stabilizing the country is being taken seriously by those in
command.
Since their arrival in Haiti, officers say they have
experienced frustrations that have progressively worsened due to what they
describe as negligence from senior commanders.
They claim that their welfare has not been prioritized, and
instead of receiving support, they have been subjected to unnecessary
challenges that have made their work more difficult.
There are growing concerns that some officers are being
favoured over others when it comes to duty assignments, with allegations that
personal connections rather than standard operational procedures determine who
is deployed for missions.
This has led to a situation where some officers remain
underutilized while others take on difficult tasks under harsh conditions
without proper support.
A particularly distressing issue is the treatment of
officers stationed at a base in Pont-Sonde, where they have been subjected to
extreme hardships.
Reports from those deployed in the area indicate that they
have been forced to survive on a single meal per day and lack proper bedding,
making their stay uncomfortable and physically draining.
Some have questioned why such conditions exist, given that
resources were allocated for their deployment.
The officers argue that such neglect directly affects their
ability to carry out security operations effectively, as they are often too
exhausted to function optimally.
Financial hardships have further worsened the situation,
with officers decrying delays in their monthly salaries and allowances.
Reports indicate that they have not received their
allowances since January, leaving many in a precarious financial situation.
Some officers have lamented that they have families back
home who depend on them, yet they have been unable to send money due to these
delays.
The absence of clear communication from authorities on when
the payments will be processed has deepened frustrations, with officers
expressing fears that they might be stranded in Haiti with no financial support
if the issue persists.
Transport challenges have also emerged, with officers
alleging that they have been provided with armoured vehicles that do not offer
adequate protection.
They claim that these vehicles have been compromised to the
extent that bullets can penetrate them, yet despite raising the issue, they
have been forced to continue using them.
This has created anxiety among officers who feel that their
safety is not being taken seriously.
Given that they are operating in a high-risk environment,
they believe that their concerns should have been addressed immediately, but
their complaints have reportedly been dismissed by their superiors.
Beyond the operational challenges, officers have also raised
concerns about the unprofessional conduct of some of their commanders, whom
they accuse of using mission resources for personal errands.
Reports indicate that while rank-and-file officers are
enduring harsh conditions, some senior officials have been engaging in
non-essential activities that do not contribute to the mission’s objectives.
This has had a demoralizing effect, as officers who expected
to be part of a serious security intervention are now witnessing behaviours
that suggest a lack of commitment from those in charge.
One of the incidents that has triggered outrage among the
officers is the use of mission personnel and resources for personal grooming
activities.
Reports have emerged of senior officers having their hair
done within the mission camp, with enlisted personnel being assigned such tasks
instead of engaging in security operations.
Some officers have expressed disbelief that such activities
are happening in the middle of a critical deployment, arguing that it reflects
misplaced priorities and a lack of seriousness in executing the mission.
Via Cyprian Nyakundi
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