Kenyan police in Haiti are intensifying efforts against gang violence through patrols and surveillance, with support from locals. Kenya has deployed over 600 officers, with plans to send 1,000 troops as part of a U.N.-backed force. Gang violence has left over 700,000 homeless and resulted in thousands of deaths, injuries, and kidnappings in recent years.

Kenyan police officers in Haiti conducted patrols around the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday as part of their ongoing efforts to combat the rising gang violence that has gripped the Caribbean nation. Footage released by the Haitian presidential service showed troops carrying out both ground patrols and utilizing drones for aerial surveillance to monitor the situation.

Superintendent Edwin Kolil of the Kenyan police praised the cooperation of the Haitian people, noting that they have been instrumental in supporting the patrols. “The members of the public in this country are very good. They interact with us each and every day, providing us with information regarding the movements of each and every gang around,” Kolil said. He further emphasized that the patrols will continue until peace is restored in Haiti.

On Friday, Kenya sent an additional 217 police officers to Haiti, as part of a multinational force dedicated to curbing the gang violence that has devastated the country. This brings the total number of Kenyan officers deployed in Haiti to over 600 since Kenya first sent troops in June. President William Ruto of Kenya has also pledged to send a total of 1,000 troops as part of a U.N.-backed peacekeeping force to help stabilize the situation.

The gang violence has had a devastating impact on the Haitian population, with more than 700,000 people left homeless in recent years. Many of these displaced individuals have sought refuge in makeshift shelters that are overcrowded and unsanitary, as armed gangs have destroyed their homes. The violence continues to escalate, with the United Nations reporting that over 5,600 people were killed in Haiti last year, marking a significant rise in fatalities.

The U.N. Human Rights Office highlighted that the number of killings in Haiti last year increased by more than 20% compared to 2023. Additionally, more than 2,200 people were injured, and nearly 1,500 were reported as kidnapped during the same period.