Kenya police officers who are fighting gangs in Haiti have received more equipment to enhance their operations.
Among the equipment that arrived at the weekend include armoured personnel carriers and choppers.
Officials said the team also received protective kits they will use in their operations in the troubled country.
There were speculations online after images of the Kenyan police were captured outside the local US embassy in Tabarre area.
Officials explained the team was there because of a meeting held inside the embassy.
The embassy is usually guarded by the US marines and another squad known as Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response.
The troops commander Godfrey Otunge, explained he and other commanders had visited the embassy on Friday to among other issues discuss various logistical issues.
The team had also visited the embassy to receive the latest batch of equipment that had been sent by the US for use by the troops.
“Our officers were not there to guard the embassy but as part of a meeting that was ongoing inside. We went to discuss many issues and receive more equipment,” he said.
He added because of many threats, about 10 commandos accompanied the team in the negotiations. His reaction came following complaints online that the troops were guarding the US embassy in Haiti instead of patrolling streets to ensure they contain marauding gangs.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said since the arrival of the officers in Haiti, they have been working closely with their host, the Haitian National Police.
He said the troops have so far undertaken strategic mapping of the key areas of operational concerns and conducted several joint patrols within the gang-controlled capital, Port-au-Prince.
“As a service, we wish to reiterate that our mission in Haiti is a noble task for the good of our brothers and sisters of Haiti, and further appeal to fellow Kenyans to support them as they lift our national flag high, along with discharging their international policing mandate,” Koome said.
The team will guard the main port, airport, main highways, hospital and presidential residence.
President William Ruto flagged off the first tranche as part of the 1,000 troops Kenya pledged to deploy to Haiti under the Multinational Security Support Mission on June 24.
The mission was authorised by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, under Resolution 2699.
The Kenyan officers are in Haiti to help combat marauding gangs that have taken over large swathes of the Caribbean country.
The Kenyan police will be joined on the mission by other teams from Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria and Mauritius.
Second team of Kenyan police will depart for Haiti in two weeks, officials said.
The team coordinator Noor Gabow flew back to Kenya on June 30 to oversee the planned departure of the second batch.
Gabow with Ruto’s National Security Advisor Dr Monica Juma had accompanied the advance team on June 24 when they arrived in Haiti.
Officials said the second team is likely to leave Kenya on June 15.
In Haiti, a team from General Service Unit’s Recce patrolled the local streets and port as part of their mandate.
Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille told the local media he expects more police officers to arrive and help in containing crime in general.
Haiti's former government first requested the force in 2022 and the first deployment of 200 Kenyan police arrived last month.
Over half a million people have fled their homes due to the violence and around half the population is going hungry.
Kenya, which is leading the 2,500-member security force, has agreed with the Haitian government on rules of engagement for the security personnel, who could face fierce opposition from the well-armed Haitian gangs that have taken over the country’s capital and overwhelmed local police.
The Kenyan teams are from the Rapid Deployment Unit, Anti Stock Theft Unit, General Service Unit, and Border Patrol Unit. This is a combat-trained team that officials say can handle the situation on the ground professionally.
They have undertaken training in various areas including language.