Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti will begin returning home in October if their current mandate is not renewed.
The mission, which is aimed at restoring order in the Caribbean nation, is scheduled to end later this year unless extended through further diplomatic engagements.
Speaking during a TV interview on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Murkomen stated that discussions are underway within the United Nations to determine whether the operation should transition into a fully funded UN peacekeeping mission.
If this happens, it would ensure continuous support, increased funding, and possibly an extension of Kenya’s deployment.
“There is a conversation going on in the UN about whether this should become a UN-led mission. If it does, we are likely to see more funding and an extension of the operation,” he said.
Murkomen emphasised the importance of the Haiti mission, saying the officers have gained valuable skills and exposure.
He noted that once they return to Kenya, the government will deploy them to key positions within the national police service and other security-related duties.
“These officers have achieved a lot. The experience they’ve gained will be vital when they come back. We will assign them roles that match their new expertise,” he explained.
He revealed that so far, one officer has died, another has been injured, and one remains missing.
Despite these losses, he praised the force for doing an excellent job under difficult circumstances.
Funding of the mission
Murkomen also addressed earlier fears regarding the mission’s funding, especially after Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency raised concerns about American support.
He clarified that although there were initial worries due to Trump’s executive orders, the funding to the mission was actually increased instead of being cut.
“There was concern when Trump was issuing executive orders that could affect funding. But to the contrary, support for the Haiti mission was scaled up,” Murkomen noted.
He also pointed out that initially, many countries were unwilling to send their officers to Haiti due to safety concerns.
However, after witnessing Kenya’s success in stabilising parts of the country, several nations have now expressed interest in contributing troops.
“Many countries that were hesitant at first are now volunteering to join. Kenya’s success has encouraged others to take part,” he said.
Murkomen later concluded that if the mission is not extended, the work Kenyan troops have done in Haiti would be enough, and it will be up to Haiti to pick up from where Kenya left off.
He added that Kenya will be on the right side of history for helping restore peace in a once-troubled nation.
Kenya’s police deployment
Kenya leads the mission, committing 1,000 police officers from specialised units like the General Service Unit (GSU) and Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU).
These officers are trained in counterterrorism, urban operations, and crowd control, making them suited for Haiti’s volatile environment.
Deployment began in June 2024, with approximately 750 Kenyan officers on the ground by April 2025, based at Camp Application in Port-au-Prince.
