Kenya will formally honour its first contingent of officers returning from the Haiti security mission by having them participate in Friday’s Jamhuri Day parade, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has announced.
The officers arrived back in the country on Tuesday after completing their 18-month tour of duty. They were part of the initial Kenyan team deployed to Haiti in June 2024 under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), which has since been rebranded as the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
A new replacement contingent landed on Sunday and has already taken over operations in the Caribbean nation.
According to the National Police Service(NPS), key achievements of the mission include enhanced stability in Haiti, restored freedom of movement, the reopening of key road networks, and significant progress in training the Haitian Police.
Kanja said the returning officers would join the ceremonial march during Kenya’s national celebrations as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for their service and a way of proudly reintroducing them to the public.
“We want the people of Kenya to take note that you have gone to Haiti and you are back. You have been away for 18 months and you are now back,” he told the officers.
“You will join that parade so that we tell Kenyans that these are our officers who have done the job there and are now back, sound, strong and ready to serve our motherland.”
Before joining the parade preparations, the officers were scheduled for a formal debriefing at their Embakasi A Campus, where the National Police Service held a grand reception for the 230 returnees. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, National Security Advisor Monica Juma and other senior security leaders attended the event.
Kanja praised the officers for their resilience, discipline, and professionalism while serving in Haiti, noting that their presence had offered hope to communities plagued by gang violence and political instability. He also commended them for upholding human rights standards throughout the deployment.
“I am happy that you ensured the rights of those people were maintained,” he said.
The police chief added that the officers were returning with valuable operational experience that would now benefit Kenya’s internal security operations.
After the Jamhuri Day celebrations, the officers will head home for leave to reunite with their families following the extended deployment.
On the pending allowances for October and November, Kanja assured the officers that the National Police Service would release the payments once it receives the funds from the United Nations.
Check out some photos of the Hero’s welcome;
