Kenya To Send Special Police To South Sudan After Arrest Of Riek Machar
Kenya has been a key contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, and this latest deployment reaffirms the country’s commitment to regional security and stability.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Kenya has announced plans to send four police specialist officers to South Sudan under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). This development comes after reports emerged regarding the arrest of First Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar, a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir.
According to the National Police Service (NPS) in a statement on Thursday, March 27, the deployment is part of the Specialised Police Team focusing on anti-cattle raiding operations.
Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, was represented at the briefing by his Principal Assistant, Mathew Kutoh, SAIG, who urged the officers to uphold the highest standards of discipline, integrity, and professionalism.
A meeting with specialised police officers on March 27, 2025, prior to their deployment to South Sudan. /NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE
"He emphasised their role as Kenya’s ambassadors, encouraging them to maintain discipline, foster teamwork, and adhere strictly to UN regulations to ensure a successful mission," NPS stated in part.
The officers, drawn from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), will serve under the command of Mr. Kioko Munyambu, SSP, for a 12-month deployment. Their mission includes undertaking specialized duties in line with international policing standards to enhance peacekeeping efforts in the region.
Kenya has been a key contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, and this latest deployment reaffirms the country’s commitment to regional security and stability.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was established in July 2011 to support the country following its independence from Sudan. However, the mission recently issued a warning about the growing risk of full-scale civil war.
Kenya is among the nations that often experience an influx of refugees whenever conflict erupts in South Sudan. Tensions have escalated in recent weeks, with renewed clashes between forces loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar and those allied with President Salva Kiir.
Reports from South Sudan indicate that Kiir’s government ordered the arrest of Machar, placing him under house arrest—an action that has raised concerns within the international community.
According to Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLM-IO), a convoy of 20 heavily armed vehicles allegedly stormed his residence in Juba, disarming his security detail.
In response, the United States has called for Machar’s release, warning that his detention could further escalate tensions and worsen the conflict.
The Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “All parties in South Sudan should prioritise peace in the country by giving room to the ongoing peace agreements under the auspices of IGAD.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavad added, “We urge all the leaders in South Sudan to exercise utmost restraint, cease hostilities, and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement in the best interests of millions of their people.”
