Kenyan police officers who served in Haiti were welcomed home as national heroes during Jamhuri Day celebrations in Nairobi on Friday, a moment that drew loud applause and deep emotion across Nyayo Stadium.

The officers, the first Kenyan contingent under the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, returned on 9 December after 18 months in the Caribbean nation, where they helped reclaim key public sites from armed gangs.

Their work, government officials said, made it possible for Haiti to regain control of critical infrastructure, including the main airport, several schools and a number of medical facilities. For many Kenyans watching the parade, the mission’s impact felt both distant and deeply personal.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hosted the officers for a reception in Embakasi a day after they arrived. He praised their “courage and discipline,” telling them that Kenyans were “proud of the dignity” they carried abroad.

During the Jamhuri Day ceremony, President William Ruto led the stadium in honouring the group. As they marched past the presidential dais, the officers saluted the Head of State, drawing a standing ovation. Many in the crowd rose to their feet, waving flags and cheering as the returning officers held high three banners — the green police flag, the Kenya Police Service flag, and the Administration Police Service flag.

The ceremony also paused to remember three Kenyan officers who died during the mission. They were honoured posthumously, their sacrifice acknowledged by an extended moment of applause.

Even as the first group returned home, another 230 officers were deployed to Haiti on 8 December to continue the mission. They are expected to join international partners working to restore stability in areas still affected by gang violence.

The returning officers were placed in the parade order between General Service Unit (GSU) officers and Border Patrol units, a symbolic position that underscored the national pride they carried home.

For many Kenyans in the stands, the tribute was a reminder of the risks taken far from home — and the quiet hope that the mission will help bring lasting calm to a country long gripped by turmoil.