Kenya’s deployment to Haiti will continue until at least September 2025, despite a recent funding freeze by the United States, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei has confirmed.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, February 5, Sing’Oei assured that the mission has sufficient funding for the foreseeable future.
“The UN Trust Fund for Haiti supports the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, established in October 2023 by UNSCR 2699. The Kenyan-led MSS includes deployments from Guatemala, Jamaica, El Salvador, the Bahamas, Belize, and others.
“As of the end of 2024, US$110.3 million had been pledged by several countries, including the USA, Canada, France, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Algeria. Of this, $85 million has already been received, with substantial contributions from the United States,” Sing’Oei stated.
He acknowledged that while a $15 million undisbursed US contribution has been paused under President Donald Trump’s directive, existing funds can sustain operations until September 2025.
Sing’Oei reiterated that Kenya and its partners remain committed to transitioning the mission into a fully-fledged UN peacekeeping operation to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
The US informed the United Nations on Tuesday, February 4, that it is freezing part of its funding for the Haiti mission, which was launched to counter gang activity in the capital.
The UN acknowledged the decision, noting that it would have an immediate impact. The US, the mission’s largest contributor, had pledged Ksh1.9 billion ($15 million) to the trust fund, but after spending Ksh219 million ($1.7 million), the remaining Ksh1.6 billion ($13.3 million) is now on hold.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that the fund currently holds less than Ksh12.9 billion ($100 million), far below the estimated Ksh77.4 billion ($600 million) needed annually for the multinational force.
The funding freeze is part of a broader directive by President Trump to halt foreign aid, disrupting global assistance programs. Thousands of US aid workers and contractors have been laid off, while many humanitarian initiatives face shutdowns.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has authorized a waiver for life-saving programs, but uncertainty over exemptions has created confusion. On January 29, the US State Department approved an aid freeze waiver of Ksh5.2 billion ($41 million) for the Haiti mission, while additional waiver requests for more than Ksh3.8 billion ($30 million) remain pending.
Despite financial uncertainties, Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to leading the MSS mission. The government, alongside international partners, is working to ensure continued operations in Haiti.
While the funding freeze poses challenges, Sing’Oei’s statement suggests efforts are underway to secure alternative financial structures, potentially under a full UN mandate. The coming months will be critical in determining the mission’s future and Kenya’s role in restoring stability to the troubled Caribbean nation.
