Kenya Police Chief Refutes Claims of Unpaid Officers in Haiti Mission

Kenya’s police chief denied claims that officers in the UN-backed Haiti peacekeeping mission have gone unpaid for three months, stating that salaries are up-to-date as of the end of October. This clarification comes in response to media reports from deployed officers expressing salary concerns. Kenya is leading the ongoing international police intervention in Haiti, aimed at mitigating rising gang violence.

In Nairobi, Kenya, the police inspector general, Douglas Kanja, refuted claims that officers involved in a United Nations-sponsored peacekeeping mission in Haiti had not received salaries for three months. He asserted that these officers had been compensated through the end of October. This statement followed reports from Kenyan media citing concerns raised by deployed personnel regarding their pay. Kenya has been leading a foreign police contingent in Haiti since June to address escalating gang violence, marking the fourth significant international military intervention in the nation’s history.

The situation in Haiti has been exacerbated by rampant gang violence, prompting international intervention. In June, Kenya sent a contingent of police officers to support a United Nations-backed mission aimed at restoring order. As part of this mission, salary disbursements for these officers have come under scrutiny, which has led to media reports suggesting non-payment. However, the police leadership has clarified the status of these payments, contrasting the claims made by the officers on the ground.

In summary, reports suggesting that Kenyan police officers serving in Haiti have gone unpaid for three months have been denied by police inspector general Douglas Kanja, who confirmed that payments are current through the end of October. The Kenyan contingent plays a critical role in the effort to stabilize Haiti amidst ongoing gang violence. The leadership’s prompt denial seeks to dispel misinformation regarding the financial treatment of deployed officers.

Original Source: www.wdrb.com