Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, stands on the brink of collapse under the weight of escalating gang violence, despite the ongoing efforts of a Kenya-led multinational police mission. Gangs now control an estimated 85% of the city, and the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Over 600 Kenyan police officers have been deployed to assist the Haitian police in restoring order and securing critical infrastructure. However, the mission—initially seen as a gesture of African-led peace diplomacy supported by strategic ties with the United States—is increasingly strained by casualties, insufficient equipment, and wavering international commitment.
The mission’s dangers were underscored by the recent ambush of a Kenyan officer and the earlier death of Officer Samuel Tooy, who was killed while on patrol. His burial in Kenya ignited national debate about the cost and value of participating in a foreign conflict with unclear benefit to Kenya. Political leaders warned that without sustained U.S. and Canadian support, including funding and equipment, the mission risks becoming a death trap. Although sanctioned by the UN, the mission is not UN-funded and relies heavily on voluntary contributions.
Hassan Khannenje, director of the Nairobi-based HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies, stressed the Kenyan force’s limitations. With only about 800 officers facing off against entrenched, well-armed gangs in a country of over 11 million people, success is unlikely without broader international reinforcement. The mission has made some progress in securing vital infrastructure, but the scale of the challenge far exceeds the force’s current capabilities.
William O’Neill, the UN-designated Haiti expert, called the police “willfully under-equipped.” Essential gear such as armored vehicles, night vision goggles, helicopters, and body armor are lacking, making operations in Haiti’s dense urban and mountainous terrain extremely dangerous. Delays in providing this equipment—promised by partner countries—have left deployed officers dangerously exposed.
Compounding these difficulties is the U.S. freeze of $13.3 million in mission funding amid a broader pause on foreign aid. This uncertainty, coupled with the Trump administration’s inward focus, raises doubts about long-term support. Yet migration concerns may compel continued U.S. engagement, as instability in Haiti risks triggering refugee flows into North America.
Despite the dire circumstances, Kenyan authorities reaffirm their commitment, driven partly by peace diplomacy and deeper ties with Washington. Haitian civilians have shown tentative support for the Kenyan presence, contrasting with previous hostility toward foreign forces. Some locals view the mission as a source of hope—albeit fragile and endangered by external inaction.
However, optimism alone cannot reverse the tide. Critics argue the mission was based on unrealistic assumptions, especially the belief that a small force could pacify heavily armed gangs through brute force. Without restructuring, improved resources, and broader strategy—including governance restoration and civilian protection—any gains will remain superficial.
If Port-au-Prince falls completely, the basis for Kenyan involvement dissolves. The mission rests on cooperation with a legitimate Haitian government; its collapse would not only compel withdrawal but also endanger deployed personnel. Such a failure would deal a symbolic blow to Kenya’s international ambitions and cast doubt on the global community’s resolve to intervene in failing states.
The Kenyan-led mission reveals the moral contradictions of modern peacekeeping. Symbolic gestures unsupported by real logistics and funding are insufficient in the face of systemic collapse. The burden has fallen disproportionately on Kenya, whose officers now bear the risks of a faltering operation that wealthier nations have largely failed to reinforce.
The mission’s fate is a litmus test for global cooperation in the face of state failure. If Port-au-Prince is lost, it will mark not just the defeat of a peacekeeping effort, but a profound indictment of the international community’s unwillingness to match rhetoric with action. The cost will be measured in lives, lost trust, and diminished hope for intervention in the world’s most fragile regions.
Gros News 
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