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On 25 June, the first group of 200 elite Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, ready to assist the struggling Haitian National Police in combating criminal gangs that have been causing chaos for years.
Hopes were high for the Kenyan officers to bring much-needed support and restore peace to the country as part of a UN-mandated, multinational force.
Despite an initially warm welcome, criticism has grown as the Kenyan force, along with Haitian police, have faced challenges in confronting the gangs effectively.
Some Haitians have expressed frustration and disappointment at the perceived slow progress and lack of concrete results in tackling the gang violence.
Critics have accused the Kenyans of theatrics and being ineffective, as the gangs continue to maintain control over certain areas despite joint patrols with Haitian police.
The Kenyan contingent has already experienced casualties, with one officer injured in a firefight with gang members.
Despite efforts to showcase their mission through social media, the Kenyan officers have faced defiance from prominent gang leaders who continue to taunt and threaten them in videos posted online.
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It remains to be seen how the Kenyan force will navigate the challenges in Haiti and work towards restoring peace in the country.
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Sus informes diarios sobre las actividades de los kenianos van desde recibir dignatarios visitantes en su base, hasta lecciones de derechos humanos, y cuentas optimistas de patrullas de “reaseguro” en las calles de Port-au-Prince.
Pero el optimismo decidido del @MSSMHaiti stream, particularmente referencias a “éxito significativo” y “retorno gradual a la normalidad”, parece haber molestado a muchos en Haití.
Algunos haitianos han denunciado los informes kenianos como, en el mejor de los casos, exagerados, y, en el peor de los casos, “propaganda”.
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