BOOST! 400 Kenyan Police In Haiti trained in French, Creole
Kenyan police officers in Haiti have completed their training in French and Creole.
The two languages are the predominant languages in Haiti, and the developments are positive for ongoing operations in the Caribbean country.
Officials stated that this will break the previously existing linguistic barrier.
When the first Kenyan group landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport on June 25, 2024, followed by the second contingent in July, many people wondered how they would overcome the linguistic barrier in Haiti, where French and Creole are the dominant languages.
Many people were unaware that the French government, through the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie, had already started pre-deployment French classes to train the Multinational Security Support (MSS) personnel.
Additional language training, including French and Creole, was also provided in Haiti to improve the team’s communication and intercultural competencies.
More than 1,000 police and military personnel have been trained in French and Creole, including in Kenya, Guatemala, Belize, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda.
France financed this effort through the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Institut Français, with a Sh260 million investment.
On Saturday, December 14, 2024, Antoine Michon, the French Ambassador to Haiti, conducted a ceremony to award French language course diplomas to nearly 400 MSS personnel who had finished the program.
French Ambassador to Haiti Awards French/Creole Language Certificates
— Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti (@MSSMHaiti) December 16, 2024
When the first Kenyan contingent arrived at Toussaint Louverture International Airport on June 25, 2024, followed by the second contingent in July, many skeptics questioned how they would overcome the language… pic.twitter.com/i160wPfIQl
Michon was delighted to see members of the Kenyan contingent chatting fluently in both French and Creole.
He underlined France’s support for the MSS mission, adding that linguistic training for contingents would continue.
In addition to language training, Michon emphasized France’s support for the MSS mission through financial contributions to the mission’s trust fund.
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He also applauded Kenya’s daring decision to send police personnel to Haiti, describing it as a significant symbol of Kenyan-Haitian cooperation.
MSS Force Commander Godfrey Otunge thanked the French government for its linguistic and material help.
He stated that the training provided MSS members with the skills, cultural awareness, and competency required for effective engagement with the Haitian people and the Haitian National Police (HNP).
“The collaboration between Kenya, Haiti, and France reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the success of the MSS mission and strengthening international solidarity,” said the ambassador.
BOOST! 400 Kenyan Police In Haiti trained in French, Creole
