Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has urged President William Ruto to withdraw Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti, citing the escalating dangers faced by the security personnel. Speaking on Monday during a burial ceremony in Nyamira County, Kalonzo expressed concerns over the increasing fatalities and the high cost of the mission, arguing that without United Nations funding, Kenya should reconsider its involvement.
His sentiments were echoed by Democratic Alliance Party (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, who appealed to the government to allow Kenyan officers to return home and instead focus on combating rising criminal activities within the country.
The situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate as gang violence spirals out of control. According to UN human rights chief Volker Türk, the country has reached “yet another crisis point,” with heavily armed gangs expanding their influence, public institutions in ruins, and a worsening humanitarian emergency. Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk emphasized that the term “gang violence” does not fully capture the suffering inflicted on the Haitian people.
Between July 2024 and February 2025, a staggering 4,239 people were killed and 1,356 injured, with 92% of casualties resulting from gun violence. The alarming statistics underscore the severity of the security situation, prompting growing concerns over the safety of Kenyan officers deployed under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
Kenya has deployed at least 800 police officers as part of the MSS mission to help restore order in Haiti. However, the operation has proven deadly. Last week, Kenyan police officer Benedict Kabiru, who had been reported missing, was confirmed dead after an attack by suspected gang members. In February, another officer, 26-year-old police constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, was fatally wounded during an operation in Ségur-Savien.
The rising casualties have fueled calls for the government to reconsider its commitment to the mission. With the UN warning of a political process “hanging by a thread” and widespread impunity exacerbating the crisis, many are questioning whether Kenya should continue to risk its personnel in such a volatile environment.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on President Ruto to determine whether Kenya will persist with the mission or heed the calls for withdrawal.
