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The delay comes as Haiti continues to struggle with worsening insecurity that has displaced more than 1.4 million people, about 12 percent of the population. The scale of the crisis has raised serious concerns about whether authorities can organize a credible and inclusive vote.
Conille's second term as prime minister, for six months in 2024, coincided with the first deployments of Kenyan troops as part of a U.N.-backed force mandated to help Haitian police restore security amid violent conflict with armed gangs.
A contingent of 215 Kenyan police officers has returned from a UN-backed security mission in Haiti, marking the end of their deployment supporting efforts to restore public order and protect civilians.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed additional commitments to the Kenya-led mission in Haiti, with countries such as Canada and Japan expected to contribute.
The transfer of power between the nine-member council, created in April 2024, and 54-year-old businessman Fils-Aimé took place under tight security, given Haiti’s unstable political climate.
Speaking during a joint media briefing in Nairobi on Thursday, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the enhanced cooperation reflects the strong partnership and mutual respect between the two nations.
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the action targets the two council members, their spouses, and children, citing their role in aiding gangs and other criminal organisations in Haiti.
The United Nations Security Council agreed at the end of September 2025 to more than double the size of the international security mission in Haiti, which has been in place for 15 months. The council also approved renaming the mission as a gang suppression force to reflect its expanded role.
The move follows a September decision by the United Nations Security Council to double the size of the 15-month-old security mission in Haiti and rename it the Gang Suppression Force. The mission had previously operated under the Kenya-led Haiti Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), which struggled with both funding and staffing.
President William Ruto stood to applaud them as they passed the presidential dais, with the officers pausing briefly to salute him in a coordinated march. The stadium erupted once more as Kenyans honoured not only the returning team but also the three officers who died during operations to suppress the Haitian gangs. The fallen officers were remembered as heroes whose sacrifice allowed their colleagues to complete the mission.
National Security Advisor Monica Juma led the reception and praised the team for representing the country with honour throughout the mission. She said the officers carried out their duties with professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility both to Kenya and to the people of Haiti.
GSF Commander Godfrey Otunge welcomed the new officers, noting their deployment comes at a crucial period and will help reinforce and accelerate progress made in countering gang activities. Boinett added that the incoming personnel had undergone intensive training and are dedicated to respecting international human rights standards and adhering to strict operational conduct.