SANTO DOMINGO — Kenya and the Dominican Republic have signed a new agreement to support Kenyan police deployed in Haiti, as concerns grow over the fragile security situation gripping the Caribbean nation.
The deal, announced after high-level talks in the Dominican capital, lays out medical evacuation and repatriation protocols for Kenyan personnel serving in a UN-backed multinational mission in Haiti. Over 600 Kenyan officers are already on the ground.
“This is about the safety and dignity of our men and women serving abroad,” said Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, during the announcement on Monday. “It shows our deep commitment to peacekeeping, while also ensuring our personnel receive the care they deserve.”
The memorandum of understanding follows the first political consultations between Kenya and the Dominican Republic, where Mudavadi met with Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez.
Under the new deal, the Dominican Republic will serve as a medical and logistical hub for Kenyan officers wounded or requiring evacuation from Haiti. So far, 20 officers have already been treated in the Dominican Republic for injuries sustained during the mission.
Álvarez described the agreement as “a sign of real commitment to those risking their lives to restore order and security in Haiti.” He added, “We are honoured to have cared for members of the Kenyan team and will continue to support their courageous work.”
Shared Strain
While Kenya leads the multinational force, the Dominican Republic — which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti is also feeling the pressure from its troubled neighbor. Álvarez and Mudavadi both expressed concern that Haiti’s escalating insecurity is spilling across borders and affecting the entire region.
“It is not just a Haitian problem,” said Mudavadi. “It is a global one, and the international community must step up.”
The two leaders urged the United Nations and donor countries to move quickly to bridge the gaps in logistical support. Kenyan officers have reportedly been operating without full equipment or consistent supply chains.
“This mission is being done with great sacrifice but without all the necessary tools,” Mudavadi said. “That is simply not sustainable.”
They also backed the idea of transitioning the mission into a hybrid operation — combining UN peacekeepers with regional support — a proposal now under consideration by the UN Security Council.
Diplomatic Ties Strengthened
Beyond security, the two countries also signed a separate agreement to boost diplomatic training. The initiative will connect Kenya’s Foreign Service Academy with the Dominican Republic’s institute for diplomatic and consular training, in a bid to foster long-term cooperation.
Mudavadi’s visit to Santo Domingo follows a stop in Washington, D.C., where he held discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. His tour continues to Brazil later this week, where he’s expected to sign trade and agriculture agreements as Kenya seeks to deepen its ties with South America.
Speaking from Santo Domingo, Mudavadi underscored the importance of international coordination in Haiti. “This is not a mission we can carry alone,” he said. “The Dominican Republic has been a vital partner not just in logistics but in spirit.”
For Kenya, the mission in Haiti marks a bold foreign policy move and a test of its growing ambition on the global stage. But as Mudavadi made clear, even bold steps need backup.
“Without proper support, missions like these can falter,” he said. “We need consistent, dependable partners to see this through.”
