Foreign law enforcement officers have arrived in Haiti over a year after the country’s authorities issued a plea to other countries for help to stop rampant gang violence that has upended the Caribbean nation. 

The United Nations has revealed that over 2,500 people have been killed this year alone and that about 200,000 people were forced out of their homes between March and May. 

In 2022, more than 7,500 people were killed by violence in the country. 

An initial group of 400 Kenyan police officers is arriving in Haiti to take on the gangs. The move is seen as an effort largely organised by U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.

Kenyans are the first to deploy an expected 2,500-member force of international police officers and soldiers from eight countries.

President William Ruto of Kenya told the officers on Monday that their presence in Haiti will bring hope and relief, adding that they are undertaking a vital mission that transcends borders and cultures.

“Your presence in Haiti will bring hope and relief to communities torn apart by violence and ravaged by disorder,” Mr Ruto said. 

The officers are expected to address a long list of priorities, including retaking control of the country’s main port and freeing major highways from criminal groups that extort drivers. 

William O’Neill, the UN’s human rights expert on Haiti, said checkpoints on the roads are the major source of income for the gang through extortion or kidnapping passengers for ransom. 

“Gang checkpoints on these roads are also a major source of their income generated by extorting money from everyone passing through and by kidnapping and holding people for hefty ransoms.

“While much delayed, the arrival of the Kenyans comes at a good time, particularly since a new police chief and prime minister have been named in recent weeks,” Mr O’Neill said. 

In May, the Haitian government officials commenced clearing the airport perimeter of hundreds of houses, which had made it easier for gangs to hide and fire at aircraft, forcing the airfield to close.

Also, the airport has been reopened to commercial flights, but gang leaders have said that they will fight the Kenyans, considered as invaders.

In addition to Kenya, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica have officially offered personnel for the mission.

Back home, the Kenyan police are enforcing a deadly crackdown on tax protesters.