Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Celebrations have broken out at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as a group of Kenyan police officers returned home after completing an 18-month deployment in Haiti.
Their return from the Caribbean nation marks a major milestone in one of Kenya’s most high-profile and contentious international security missions.
The 100 officers, deployed to Haiti in June 2024, touched down to a warm reception of song, dance and visible emotion from colleagues and family members who had waited months for their safe return.
As cameras rolled and flags waved, relief and pride hung in the air, capturing the human cost and reward of the risky mission.
Popular Swahili gospel tunes, infused with traditional songs rent the air as other officers led by Deputy Inspector General, Administration Police, Gilbert Masengeli and Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service, Eliud Lagat joined in welcoming the officers.
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In one striking moment that summed up the significance of the return, one officer briefly knelt on the airport tarmac and bowed his head in prayer before rejoining his colleagues.
The officers were part of Kenya’s contribution to the multinational security effort in Haiti, a country that has struggled for years under relentless gang violence, political instability and the near collapse of key state institutions.
Their deployment placed them at the centre of a volatile environment in Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs controlled major neighbourhoods, disrupted daily life and overwhelmed local law enforcement.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
