A Kenyan police officer who was injured during a battle with gangs in Haiti is undergoing treatment.
The officer sustained injuries during an operation in July by officers from the UN-backed international policing mission led by Kenya.
He was evacuated to a hospital in the neighbouring Dominican Republic, where a source said he “is doing well.”
The officer had joined his colleagues in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in an operation where a gunfight with gangs ensued. The officer was shot in the gun battle.
An officer, who spoke in confidence as he is not authorised to speak to the media, said the injured officer was responding well to treatment.
“The officer is still undergoing treatment ever since he was injured but we are aware that he is doing well,” said the officer.
When the officer was injured, he was rushed to a dispensary which is located in the officers’ camp within Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. Thereafter, he was airlifted to the Dominican Republic.
It remains unclear why a decision to send him to the neighbouring country was made, the facility where they were supposed to be treated was not well equipped.
Kenya has sent 400 police officers to Haiti. The first slot of 200 officers left Nairobi in June and weeks later the other contingent followed.
The gang is accused of perpetrating abuses which include sexual violence, kidnappings, murder, rape, and the forced recruitment of children.
During the UN General Assembly in New York, President Joe Biden praised the Kenyan officers for the efforts they are making to ensure that peace is restored in the Caribbean nation.
Last weekend, President William Ruto visited the Kenyan police officers in Haiti and had discussions with them about their welfare.
The officers raised concerns about delays in receiving their monthly allowances. However, the officers informed the Head of State that they will ensure they restore peace in the Caribbean nation.
President Ruto thanked the officers for their dedication and promised them their grievances will be addressed. “I came here especially to know about your progress so that friends and partners who believe in stability and peace can
work with me at the United Nations General Assembly to make sure that you get the requisite support to ensure that you deliver,” President Ruto told the police officers at Port-au-Prince. The Kenyan leader also met President Edgard Le Leblanc of the Transitional Presidential Council.
Thereafter President Ruto informed the General Assembly of the progress made by the Kenya-led mission in Haiti, saying that despite limited resources, the contingent has achieved tangible progress.
“What looked like a mission impossible is now a present and real possibility for peace in Haiti,” President Ruto said.
Apart from Kenya, Jamaica has also deployed a few officers. Other countries that promised to deploy officers but are yet to send them are the Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, Italy, Spain, Mongolia, Senegal, Belize, Suriname, Guatemala, and Peru.
Plans are underway to extend the mission which is scheduled to end in October.
