“At no time were there any Kenyan police officers present at the scene,” one of the police officers told AyiboPost.
The Kenyan multinational force in Haiti claims to have regained control of the State University of Haiti Hospital (HUEH) in Port-au-Prince, in a publication on its account X.
Three Haitian National Police (HNP) officers — two of whom directly participated in the operations of July 7, 2024 in question — dispute this version of events to AyiboPost.
“At no time were there any Kenyan police officers present at the scene,” one of the police officers told AyiboPost.
The links to the various social media accounts of the multinational force were shared by an official source from the mission in Haiti who was met physically by AyiboPost.
Mission-related publications, such as press releases and meeting minutes, are shared on the same account.
The most recent publication The Kenyans’ July 18 report highlights the “significant successes” and “important advances” made by foreign police officers since their arrival in the country.
“The team continues its operations in Haiti after regaining control of the public hospital which was under the control of gangs,” reads the statement signed by the commander in chief of the multinational force, Godfrey Otunge.
A Haitian police officer who took part in the operation at the general hospital denounces a campaign of disinformation.
The police operation at the general hospital was carried out by agents of the Departmental Unit for Maintaining Order (UDMO), SWAT, and the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) on the evening of July 7, according to the three police sources, including a senior official from Port-au-Prince.
On July 10, a Kenyan media first reports the participation of Kenyans in this operation.
“It was an intervention carried out exclusively by PNH units,” the two police officers who took part in the operation insisted to AyiboPost.
“The area was no longer occupied by the bandits at that time,” said one of the sources, adding that the national police officers returned home around eight in the evening after the operation.
A Haitian police officer who took part in the operation at the general hospital denounces a campaign of disinformation.
Material damage was observed at the largest hospital in Port-au-Prince by police. The institution has not been operating for several months due to gang violence.
Asked about the Haitian police denials, the Kenyan source within the mission maintains the involvement of foreign officers. “Sometimes you shouldn’t take all the credit,” the source said. “It builds the PNH. It puts them forward.”
State officials, including Prime Minister Garry Conille, presidential adviser Louis-Gérald Gilles and police chief Normil Rameau, visited the HUEH premises the day after the operation.
No Kenyan presence was noted on site. They were also not mentioned in subsequent announcements by Haitian authorities.
Yesterday, Wednesday, a patrol made up of Haitian and Kenyan police officers went to downtown Port-au-Prince in new armored vehicles.
During this exercise, one of the vehicles broke down. The source within the mission explained to AyiboPost that it was a temporary running-in problem.
Read also: What are Kenyans waiting for to take action against bandits?
In a message to the nation broadcast on the night of July 15, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille declared a state of security emergency in fourteen gang-controlled communes.
The head of the Prime Minister’s office renewed the will of his government and that of the police forces to gradually retake the territories under the control of the gangs.
Asked about the denials of the Haitian police, the Kenyan source within the mission maintains the involvement of foreign officers.
On July 16, a second contingent of Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti, bringing their number to around 400 officers. This landing comes after a first contingent of just over 200 officers arrived in Haiti on June 25, 2024.
This second contingent of police officers left Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, in a context marked by a serious socio-political crisis.
Sometimes violent demonstrations are taking place there against the backdrop of demands for the resignation of President William Ruto.
Highly contested, the head of state dismissed almost his entire cabinet this week after backtracking on a criticized finance law.
In parallel, a team of senior Jamaican officials arrived in the country to conduct a pre-deployment assessment of their police officers who will join the mission.
Par Widlore Merancourt & Wethzer Piercin
Cover image edited by AyiboPost illustrating the contested takeover of the State University Hospital of Haiti (HUEH) by the Kenyans of the MMAS. | © Photos: Jean Feguens Regala/AyiboPost
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