Kenyan police officers assigned to the United Nations-backed mission in Haiti could earn up to Ksh279,955 per month, including allowances, making their peacekeeping roles quite lucrative.
Each officer is set to receive a monthly salary of Ksh182,242 from the international agency, with additional allowances significantly increasing their total income.
During his vetting by the Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 1, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, President William Ruto’s nominee for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, disclosed that the police officers deployed to Haiti are being compensated and insured by the United Nations.
Addressing questions about the deployment, Kindiki assured, “Our officers are covered, insured, and paid by the United Nations, so there is no reason for concern.”
Research shows that these officers will earn $1,410 monthly, which is roughly Ksh182,242 at the current exchange rate. This salary structure, approved by the UN General Assembly in June 2014, has seen slight increases over the years.
Additionally, the officers receive a Mission Subsistence Allowance (MSA) of $756, which adds Ksh97,713 to their monthly earnings.
The United Nations Security Council authorized the Kenyan-led mission in October 2023, deploying 400 officers as part of a larger group of 1,000 Kenyan police to help stabilize the violence-plagued Caribbean nation. The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, also supported by the United States, aims to restore law and order in Haiti.
The UN’s reimbursement framework, detailed on its official site under Peacekeeping Missions, specifies the pay structure for contributing countries. The General Assembly’s resolution 68/281 approved a new rate of $1,332 per person per month, effective from July 1, 2014, with gradual increases to $1,365 in 2016 and $1,410 from July 1, 2017.
The Mission Subsistence Allowance (MSA) is a key part of the officers’ compensation. According to the UN, MSA covers long-term living costs such as accommodation, meals, and miscellaneous expenses incurred during duty in a field mission. The allowance is payable to non-staff personnel provided by a government to serve in individual capacities in UN missions, including peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field missions.
Kenyan officers deployed to Haiti will come from the General Service Unit (GSU), Special Units, and the Border Patrol Unit (BPU). This deployment aims to support efforts to restore order in Haiti, which has been troubled by gang violence and instability.
Prof. Kindiki praised the officers’ efforts, stating, “It’s also good to report good progress so far. The officers have recovered critical infrastructure, including the port, the airport, the main police station, and the hospital from the gangs. Some of the gang leaders who were defiant have now signed for peace and are willing to engage. Our officers are doing a commendable job. We are praying for them and hope for their continued success.”
By Kenyans