The Kenyan Police unit operating under the Multinational Security System Support (MSS) on Saturday expressed to President William Ruto that their mission in Haiti has been a success, especially in how they managed to wade into some of the dangerous territories in the Caribbean nation.
The soldiers expressed enthusiasm, maintaining that the success of their mission so far has boosted their morale and determination, and vowed to push further in a bid to keep the Caribbean nation peaceful and away from the gangs.
Speaking during an interaction session with the president when he made a stopover in Haiti to inspect the progress of the mission, the officers under the command of Senior Assistant Inspector General Geoffrey Otunge revealed that they managed to get into operation areas that had been long-feared and no other force wanted to even step foot in the areas.
A Kenyan police officer serving as an armored personnel carriers (APC) operator, Daniel Nachera Njomo, told the President that Kenya had broken the record as the first-ever mission to go on that daring mission.
Commander of the Kenya Police in Haiti and Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police, Godfrey Otunge on June 26, 2024
Photo
Clarens Siffroy
The dangerous areas which include Delmas and Soleil are reported to be the Haitian gang leader Jimmy Barbecue’s main operating areas, where he launches and coordinates his attacks.
‘’If you even check on the social media or even ask the locals, ever since the war broke out there is no single day that they have ever attempted to reach the territories of Delmas and Soleil and I can tell you Sir(President) that we have broken the record as the first force to reach the territories,’’ Njomo narrated.
However, the officers asked Ruto to fast-track key equipment delivery to enable them to push the mission to greater levels.
They revealed that they had experienced some challenges in the mission, asking the President to address them immediately even as they reported success.
‘’Our colleagues in the Recce received advanced tactical gear but we are yet to receive it. Therefore, I ask you to intervene for us through your office because it is making it hard for us to do the ground clearance but we are trying with the little we have,’’ Njomo added.
In his response, Ruto promised to fast-track the delivery of the key equipment needed by the officers as he heaped praises on the officers for the job they had so far done to restore peace in Haiti.
‘’I have already been briefed by Otunge and thank you so much for raising that and already, we are making advance preparations for the equipment to arrive here,’’ Ruto assured.
‘’I have been briefed by Otunge that it is in Delmas that Barbecue operates from and the information I am getting is that you have waded into the area until that man has revealed that he now wants to be a preacher,’’ Ruto added.
President Ruto also demonstrated hope in the officers, maintaining that they had proved wrong those who thought the mission would fail.
‘’You know that this mission had a lot of doubts back home but you have demonstrated otherwise and raised the respect of the Kenyan Police and now many troops have revealed that they are now ready to come to Haiti all because you did the unimaginable,’’ he stated.
William Ruto leads a prayer with Kenyan soldiers in Port-au-Prince in Haiti on Saturday, September 21, 2024. PHOTO/Screengrab/William Ruto
