Kenyan Police in Haiti Suffer More Casualties in Clashes with Gangs
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – Two Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti have been seriously injured in clashes with armed gangs over the past week, further adding to the mounting casualties faced by the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
The injured officers were part of Kenya’s contingent in the MSS, which currently comprises around 1,000 security personnel, three-quarters of whom are from Kenya. The mission, initially deployed in June last year, aims to stabilize Haiti and restore security to enable elections by February 2026. However, it has faced ongoing challenges, including morale issues, escalating gang violence, and uncertainty over its expansion.
MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka confirmed that the two injured officers had been evacuated to the Dominican Republic for medical treatment. “As in any mission, casualties are sometimes unavoidable,” he stated.
According to three officers who spoke to Reuters anonymously for fear of reprisal, the injuries occurred during routine patrols in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince. The city remains largely under the control of heavily armed gangs, which have been blamed for thousands of deaths since 2021.
One officer was shot in the head when a bullet pierced his helmet, while another was hit in the ear after a gunshot penetrated the walls of an armored vehicle. The officers raised concerns about the quality of their protective gear, noting that 20 armored vehicles have been grounded since the weekend after officers refused to use them. This follows a second incident where the armor failed to stop a bullet.
The MSS mission previously suffered its first fatality in February, and another Kenyan officer was reported missing last week. The three officers indicated that he is believed to be dead.
A delegation from MSS is set to travel to Washington this week to raise concerns with U.S. officials regarding the quality of protective equipment provided. The United States has been the primary contributor of funding and equipment to the mission, though significant contributions from other nations have remained elusive.
Kenya’s government has justified its involvement in Haiti on humanitarian grounds. However, analysts suggest the deployment also serves to enhance Kenya’s international standing and strengthen its diplomatic ties with the United States.
Despite growing concerns, Ombaka maintained that the MSS continues to receive logistical support from international partners and that all provided equipment meets global standards.
The U.S. State Department has yet to issue a response regarding the concerns over equipment quality.
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Kenyan Police in Haiti Suffer More Casualties in Clashes with Gangs