Item 1 of three A Kenyan police officer patrols because the nation is dealing with emergency meals insecurity whereas immersed in a social and political disaster, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Jean Feguens Regala/File Photo
NAIROBI, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Nearly 20 of the roughly 400 Kenyan law enforcement officials serving in Haiti on a U.N.-backed anti-gang pressure have submitted letters of resignation from the mission over the previous two months due to pay delays and poor situations, three officers informed Reuters.
The officers have obtained no response to their letters and proceed to serve on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, mentioned the three officers, who requested anonymity as a result of they weren’t allowed to talk to the media.
The MSS in Haiti, which is led by prime Kenyan law enforcement officials, mentioned in an announcement despatched after publication of this text that it “categorically refutes” the assertions by Reuters that MSS officers had been contemplating resigning over cost delays. It mentioned personnel “have obtained their salaries, together with month-to-month allowances, and no MSS officer has tendered their resignation.”
A Reuters spokesperson mentioned that, whereas the information company didn’t search remark from the MSS earlier than the publication of the story, it stands by the accuracy of its reporting.
Kenya’s nationwide police spokesperson didn’t reply to calls and messages looking for remark concerning the resignation letters, pay delays and dealing situations.
On Wednesday, nationwide police chief Douglas Kanja addressed studies in Kenyan media of pay delays at a information convention, saying the officers had been paid “as much as the tip of October”.
The three officers disputed this, saying they had been final paid in September.
Kenya has deployed about 400 officers since June to guide the MSS, which is supposed to comprise round 2,500 personnel from about 10 nations, however the pressure has been hobbled by funding and staffing shortfalls.
The three officers informed Reuters that colleagues started to submit letters of resignation in October after attempting to resign verbally and being informed to place their requests in writing.
Three officers submitted resignation letters in October and one other 15 or so in November. Among them had been a minimum of 5 senior officers, together with a unit commander, who was the primary to submit a letter in October, they mentioned.
GANG VIOLENCE WORSENS
One officer mentioned he had not been ready for what he encountered in Haiti and has been “laid low with scenes like canine consuming human flesh on the streets”.
The officers additionally mentioned they didn’t have ample ammunition to counter the gangs, who’ve stepped up assaults on Kenyan police positions.
The mission has confronted morale points practically from the beginning.
However, China and Russia have voiced opposition, arguing for the MSS mission to be given extra time to ascertain peace earlier than sending in a peacekeeping mission.
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Reporting by Edwin Okoth; Additional reporting and writing by Aaron Ross; Additional reporting in Port-au-Prince by Steven Aristil; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and William Maclean
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