What Has Kenya's Police Changed in Haiti?

Haiti, a strategic point in the Caribbean, has been struggling for existence amid gang violence, poverty, and instability for two hundred years since gaining its independence. However, these challenges do not stem solely from Haiti's internal problems; the covert policies long pursued by the United States have dragged the country into the chaos it finds itself in today. America has sent, and continues to send, police units from Kenya to Haiti under the pretext of ending gang violence. Yet, American hegemony is not striving to provide security and stability in Haiti; on the contrary, it desires the continuation of chaos because it does not want to see a strong, independent country near its shores.

From the First Successful Slave Revolt to Chaos

Haiti ended French colonialism in 1804, following the revolution that began in 1791, initiated by slaves brought from Africa seeking independence. What made the Haitian Revolution unique was that it was the first successful slave revolt in modern history. However, after gaining independence, its recognition by France in 1825 came at a heavy price. Haiti was forced to pay 150 million francs (approximately $21 billion) in compensation to French slave owners. To pay this crippling debt, Haiti accepted a loan offer from the US, thus becoming indebted to two countries simultaneously. The country tried to pay off this debt burden until 1947, but in the process, its resources were depleted, leaving it vulnerable to economic exploitation in the near future.

In 1915, after the assassination of Haitian President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam, the US invaded Haiti under the pretext of "security." Although this occupation lasted until 1934, the US continued to hold financial control over Haiti even after leaving. All of Haiti's revenue-generating commercial activities, including the sugar cane trade, came under US control. Haiti still experiences US-controlled chaos, both economically and politically, to this day.

Gangs and the Status Quo: The Conscious Impoverishment of Haitians

Haiti, with its subsoil resources and natural wealth, has long been a focal point for multinational corporations. This island nation, with its gold, rare minerals, and fertile agricultural land, has had its independent agency stripped away due to US economic and strategic interests. The US has stationed troops in Haiti under various pretexts for over 100 years.

Apart from the gold deposits on the border with the Dominican Republic and the enormous investments made by multinational corporations, this small country is also located on major sea and air drug trafficking routes.

While the US has made Haiti dependent on certain products to weaken its agricultural production, the existence and violence of gangs are also maintained as one of the biggest obstacles to sustainable development.

Although the gangs in Haiti are portrayed in Western media as having formed "spontaneously," they receive support from certain foreign powers, primarily the United States. Haiti's financial and political command is in America's hands.

In a country under an arms embargo, the gangs' weapons are American-made. Many Haitian gang leaders are deportees sent back from the US.

This "controlled chaos" facilitated through the gangs ensures the country remains under the domination of large capital groups.

The system financed by the US limits Haiti's access to its own natural resources, keeping the country perpetually dependent on foreign aid. American grain and food companies are the biggest winners in this dependency relationship, while Haiti, with its agricultural and industrial capacity destroyed, is turned into a reservoir of cheap labor. An unstable Haiti is profitable for the US's present and future.

US Indirect Intervention and Israel's Fingerprint

Every time Haiti resisted US hegemony, it faced various military interventions. In 1994, under the name "Operation Uphold Democracy," the US sent 20,000 troops to Haiti under a UN peacekeeping mandate. These shows of force pushed Haiti into the position of a satellite state serving US geopolitical interests. Similarly, there are claims of indirect US support in the 2004 military coup that overthrew democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The power vacuum following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 led to gang violence reaching dramatic proportions. However, the security situation worsened further in February 2024 when gangs united their forces in a coalition called Viv Ansanm (Living Together in Creole), ousting Prime Minister Ariel Henry, launching coordinated attacks on police stations, government buildings, and infrastructure, and seizing control of the international airport and the main port. Today, gangs control 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

It is reported that nearly half of Haiti's 11.5 million population faces acute food insecurity. Kidnapping, rape, and looting are part of daily life.

Another country supporting the gangs is Israel. Gilbert Bigio, also referred to as Israel's honorary consul in Haiti, was accused by Canada of using his extensive influence and wealth in the country to "protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs" that have been operating in Port-au-Prince for years. However, Bigio continued to fuel the gangs without facing any penalties.

Many other influential white "war lords" like Bigio possess the private airports, ports, and border connections needed to smuggle weapons and other illicit goods into the country. Gilbert Bigio, whose own father is known to have played a major role in Haiti's support for the establishment of Israel, is the richest and most influential man in the country. While the Haitian people endure their harsh reality, these figures engage in illegal activities from their distant mansions to increase the chaos, and all these activities are supported by the US and Western countries.

Kenya's Involvement: A Pawn's Role

The US, which has previously intervened directly in the country, this time chose to intervene indirectly. It asked Kenya—which has experience fighting Al-Shabaab militants on its border with Somalia—to send police forces to Haiti to combat the gangs. Kenya promised to send a 1,000-strong police force. A contingent of 400 Kenyan police was sent in June and July. On January 17, a third group of 217 specially trained officers began their mission in Haiti.

Funded by a UN Trust Fund supported by Canada, the US, and France, in addition to US State Department funds, the Kenyan police force has so far failed to make any progress in the fight against the gangs. America's goal is not really to get rid of the gangs anyway, but to appear involved in a "solution" process in Haiti by using its African ally, William Ruto, as a pawn.

According to a UN report, at least 5,600 people were killed due to gang violence in Haiti in 2024 (about 1,000 more than in 2023), and 2,212 were injured.

In a country where political killings, arbitrary arrests, kidnappings, and torture have frequently occurred under US-backed dictatorial regimes, there are fears that clashes between the gangs and Kenya's police force, which is notorious for human rights abuses, will further increase violence.

This time, the people, afraid of both the gangs and the Kenyan police, face an even more difficult situation. Moreover, communication between the English and Swahili-speaking Kenyan police and the French and Creole-speaking Haitian police and population is nearly impossible. The Kenyan public also disapproves of their police's overseas mission, accusing President Ruto of supporting American neo-colonialism and endangering his own police for money.

The recent removal of Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille, appointed just six months ago, deepens the instability further. Violence in the country is escalating.

The fundamental problem in Haiti is not just a security gap; it is a systemic issue requiring a profound political and economic change of order. Instability is a key strategic element for ensuring US interests maintain power in Haiti and for keeping the country under control, and the US abandoning this element is not an expected scenario in the near future.

There are already reports of resignations among the Kenyan police, with some complaining about low pay. It is not hard to predict their reaction if the other planned officers are not sent, or if their funding is further reduced or cut off (Trump might take a different stance and could withdraw US support entirely).

 

Sources:

https://www.indyturk.com/node/565906/t%C3%BCrki%CC%87yeden-sesler/haitide-devlet-yok-%C3%A7eteler-var-bm-haitiye-askeri-m%C3%BCdahale 

https://news.asu.edu/20210721-5-factors-have-led-haitis-current-political-state 

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/investigations/2025/01/13/haiti-depth-why-kenya-led-security-mission-floundering 

https://haitiliberte.com/gilbert-bigio-israels-man-in-haiti/ 

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/america/article/2001505603/un-says-haitis-murder-rate-rose-from-july-to-sept

This article was originally published in Independent Türkçe, on January 22,2024.