A Kenyan police officer deployed to Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission has succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during an operation against criminal gangs. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, died while receiving treatment at the Level Two Aspen Hospital, marking the first Kenyan casualty since the contingent arrived in June 2024.
The officer was part of a team engaged in a fierce confrontation with armed gangs in Seguin, Pont-Sonde, located in Haiti’s volatile Artibonite department. MSS Commander Godfrey Otunge confirmed the tragic loss in a statement, noting that the officer was critically injured and immediately airlifted for medical attention but could not be saved.
The Kenyan police team, comprising approximately 800 officers, has been actively conducting security operations in Artibonite, a region plagued by rampant gang violence. According to Otunge, their interventions have led to the neutralization of several gang members, prompting calls from residents in other areas for similar action.
“In response to the residents’ pleas, our brave officers stepped in to confront the gangs in Seguin. This is the price our courageous officer paid he was killed while fighting for the people of Haiti,” Otunge said.
In the aftermath of the officer’s death, his fellow officers pursued and neutralized the gang member responsible, demonstrating their commitment to restoring order in Haiti.
The Kenyan-led force is part of a UN-backed international mission aimed at combating gang dominance in Haiti, which has escalated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The force, expected to consist of 2,500 personnel from Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Belize, is still short of its full deployment, raising concerns about its effectiveness.
Security experts warn that even with the full contingent, the mission’s capacity remains insufficient to fully eradicate gang control, particularly in the absence of sustained law enforcement or military presence. The risk of gangs reclaiming lost territory remains high, posing a significant challenge to long-term stability.
As Kenya mourns its fallen officer, the incident highlights the dangers faced by international forces in Haiti and the broader challenges of stabilizing the embattled Caribbean nation.
