- Joy filled JKIA as 100 Kenyan police officers returned after an 18-month mission in Haiti
- The officers, who were deployed in June 2024, were received with songs, dances and emotional gatherings
- The shocking moment saw an officer kneeling on the pavement in prayer, signaling calm for their safe return
- The team had served in violence-stricken Haiti, working in troubled neighborhoods controlled by gangs
Celebrations have taken place at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as a group of Kenyan police officers return home after completing an 18-month transfer to Haiti.
Source: UGC
Their return from the Caribbean nation marks an important step in one of Kenya’s most prestigious and controversial international security missions.
The 100 officers, deployed to Haiti in June 2024, received with joy song, dance and visible emotions from their colleagues and family members who had waited for months for their safe return.
As cameras rolled and flags waved, relief and pride hung in the air, documenting the human cost and reward of the dangerous mission.
Popular Kiswahili gospel songs, full of traditional songs were aired while other officers led by Deputy Inspector General, Administrative Police, Gilbert Masengeli and Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service, Eliud Lagat joined and welcomed the officers.
In one dramatic moment that summed up the significance of the return, one officer briefly knelt at the airport and bowed his head in prayer before joining his colleagues.
The officials were part of Kenya’s contribution to international security efforts in Haiti, a country that has struggled for years under relentless gang violence, political instability and the near collapse of key government institutions.
Their deployment placed them in the middle of a volatile environment in Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs controlled large neighborhoods, disrupting daily life and overwhelming local police officers.
Has the mission in Haiti been successful?
The deployment ceremony for the officers in Nairobi was led by National Security Adviser Monica Juma, who invited the officers to Haiti.
He was joined by senior officers of the National Police Service (NPS), including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat of the Kenya Police Service, DIG Gilbert Masengeli of the Administrative Police, and other senior officers.
Source: Facebook
Others who attended the ceremony were former Inspector General and Deputy NSA Joseph Boinnet, Commander of the Central Service Division Ranson Lolmodooni, and senior officers from the National Police Academy and Kenya Airways.
Juma delivered a message from the President William Rutourging the officers to serve as exemplary ambassadors for Kenya while contributing to the objectives of the mission.
“He noted that joint patrols with the Haitian National Police (HNP) have succeeded in increasing stability and resulting in the arrest of people in areas controlled by gangs such as Downtown Port-au-Prince, Ganthier, and Delmas,” the police reported on Juma’s message before leaving.
The officers selected for the mission come from various NPS groups and special units, reflecting Kenya’s commitment.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
