Kenya’s Haiti Mission Unaffected By U.S. Funding Freeze – Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi Says

     By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has assured that the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti will continue despite the United States halting its financial contributions through a United Nations fund.

The United Nation recently confirmed that it had received an official directive from the Unitef States to immediately halt its Ksh.1.7 billion contribution to the international security initiative in Haiti.

This development has raised concerns about the stability of the mission, particularly for the 217 Kenyan officers deployed there.

Addressing the situation, Mudavadi emphasized that the mission is a collaborative effort involving multiple nations and is not solely dependent on U.S. funding.

“The Haiti mission is based on a UN resolution and involves contributions from several countries. While additional resources would enhance operations, the mission remains on course,” he stated.

The U.S. decision to freeze its funding aligns with President Donald Trump’s directive to pause foreign aid for 90 days while assessing its alignment with his “America First” policy.

However, the U.S. has also granted a waiver concerning the Haiti mission, leaving open the possibility of resuming financial support.

So far, the UN has received over USD 110 million in funding for the mission, with Canada being the largest donor.

Other contributors include France, Spain, Algeria, Turkey, and Italy. In response to the funding uncertainty, Kenya is actively exploring alternative partnerships.

Mudavadi revealed that discussions are underway with the Dominican Republic, and a memorandum of understanding is set to be signed to facilitate medical care for injured personnel.

Currently, approximately 900 officers and troops from Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Belize are stationed in Haiti as part of the multinational security operation.