A Kenyan police officer deployed under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti was shot and injured during a security operation in Kenscoff, within the Belot area of Port-au-Prince.
Mission spokesman Jack Ombaka confirmed that the officer, whose identity was not disclosed, was promptly evacuated to ASPEN Level 2 Hospital, where he is receiving medical attention and is in stable condition. “He is in stable condition, and we are pursuing the gang behind the shooting,” Ombaka stated, without elaborating on the nature of the injuries.
This marks the second time a Kenyan officer has been shot in Haiti. The incident comes just a day before the burial of Constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, who was shot and killed on February 23 in the same area. Kaetuai, who was among a team pursuing a gang, succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. He will be laid to rest on March 19 in his rural home in Kajiado, with top police officers and politicians expected to attend the funeral.
Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, recently visited Kaetuai’s family in Naserian Village, Kajiado East, to offer condolences. He praised the late officer as a hero who died in the line of duty, defending global peace. Kanja also reassured Kenyans that the well-being of officers in Haiti remains a government priority, with continuous communication and support being provided.
Kenya has deployed at least 800 police officers as part of the MSS mission, aimed at combating gang violence in Haiti. The country has been grappling with escalating insecurity, with the United Nations reporting over 5,600 people killed in gang-related incidents in 2024 alone. The situation has led to mass displacement, a collapse of health services, and a worsening food security crisis.
The MSS mission, expected to comprise 2,500 personnel, includes forces from the Bahamas, Guatemala, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad. However, Haiti’s transitional presidential council has struggled to restore order and organize long-overdue elections, leaving the nation in continued turmoil.
