- Among others, the team has taken control of a local port, national hospital and a major road from the gang.
- He acknowledged the global challenges and the strain on international aid but stressed the importance of meeting the current needs in Haiti.
Two months after arrival of Kenyan police in Haiti, officials are now asking for swift delivery of resources to enhance operations.
The first team of officers arrived in Haiti on June 25 and has so far helped pacify places in Port-au-Prince amid resistance from local gangs.
Among others, the team has taken control of a local port, national hospital and a major road.
But since then, they have been struggling to get hold of local ambassadors and authorities, seeking delivery of resources.
Head of the team Godfrey Otunge said they are optimistic that more resources will arrive to help them complete their mission.
The officers' mandate is to support efforts of the Haitian National Police (HNP) to re-establish security in Haiti and build a conducive environment for free and fair elections.
Prime Minister Garry Conille raised concerns over delays in funding.
He warned that lack of timely support could undermine the entire operation and erode the credibility of the transitional government.
"People are living under very bad circumstances. They want to see action," Conille said.
"Unfortunately, the resources are not enough and not coming fast enough. We understand that there are many emergencies and fatigue, but the good news is that there is hope."
Conille said failure to meet the mission's funding requirements, might shatter expectations.
"The arrival of Kenyan officers created expectations and we need to meet them or the whole system crumbles," he said.
International partners supporting Haiti security sector on August 8 held a joint forum at Montana Hotel.
The meeting was chaired by Canadian Ambassador to Haiti Andre Giroux who said MSS mission is critical and all actors need to fully support it.
US Ambassador Dennis Hankins and senior representatives from Bahamas, EU, Spain, France, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Chile, Swiss and UN agencies attended the meeting.
The mission in Haiti is funded by the US government and other donors.
Conille appealed to international partners to support the Haitian National Police who despite their numbers, lack resources and weapons.
He called for quick intervention as the country prepares for elections next year.
“There is need to guarantee security as it is the key to free and fair elections,” Conille said.
HNP director general Normil Rameu said pressure is building from all fronts and locals expect to see immediate results.
Otunge said he is committed to use all resources available to support HNP.
“This has seen constant night and day patrols conducted jointly by MSS and HNP,” he said.
He said this will ensure all critical government infrastructures are recovered.
Otunge appreciated the equipment and weapons delivered during the pre-deployment period.
Kenyan police are in Haiti to stabilise the Caribbean capital – Port-au-Prince – that was almost overrun by gangs.
The team is manning the port, the main airport, the presidential palace, main hospitals and highways.
Apart from Kenya, other countries that have pledged to send officers to Haiti include Benin, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Algeria, Canada and France.
Kenya police in Haiti are undergoing linguistic and intercultural training to enhance their operations.
The team was told that gangs are now becoming confrontational and harsh.
On July 30, a Kenyan police officer in Haiti was shot and wounded in a confrontation with gangs in Port-au-Prince.
A team was on patrol along the National Hospital-APN Sea Port Road when they noticed that a lorry was being looted by suspected gangsters.
The gang members had shot dead the driver as they looted the track that was loaded with bags of rice.
“The patrol team immediately engaged the gangs and they started shooting at them,” Otunge said.
“One Kenyan contingent sustained a gunshot injury on the shoulder in the process and was evacuated to Life Support Area Hospital for treatment."
He said the officer sustained an injury on the left acromioclavicular joint with soft tissue injuries.
Otunge said the gang members escaped with serious, life-threatening injuries and disappeared into the tall buildings they were shooting from.
This happened a day after the team and local officers engaged gangs in a gun drama as Conille visited a hospital on Monday July 29 in Port-au-Prince.