NAIROBI, Kenya – A Kenyan police officer deployed under the United Nations-backed Multinational Security Mission (MSS) in Haiti was injured on Tuesday during a security operation in Kenscoff, southeast of the capital Port-au-Prince.
The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, sustained injuries in the Belot area and was promptly evacuated to Aspen Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment in stable condition, according to mission spokesperson Jack Ombaka.
This marks the second incident in less than a month involving Kenyan officers in Haiti, following the fatal shooting of Constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai on February 23 in Pont Sonde.
Kaetuai, who was among a team pursuing gang members, died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
His burial is set for March 19 in his rural home in Kajiado, in a ceremony expected to be attended by senior police officials and government representatives.
Kenya has deployed approximately 800 officers to Haiti as part of the multinational effort to curb escalating gang violence.
The mission includes personnel from Jamaica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and other nations, working alongside Haiti’s struggling national police force.
The latest attack highlights the increasingly volatile security situation, as heavily armed gangs continue to challenge law enforcement efforts.
Today, Tuesday, 18th March 2025, a member of the MSS Kenyan contingent was injured while conducting a security operation in Kenscoff, within the Belot area. The officer was promptly evacuated to ASPEN Level 2 Hospital, where he is receiving medical attention and is in stable…
According to United Nations reports, Haiti recorded over 5,601 deaths from gang-related violence in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s toll by more than 1,000 fatalities.
Gang dominance in Port-au-Prince has caused a near-total breakdown of law and order, forcing over one million people to flee their homes.
The UN has also documented 315 lynchings of suspected gang members and 281 summary executions by police, underscoring the dire human rights crisis gripping the Caribbean nation.
Kenyan authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of officers deployed in Haiti.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja recently led senior police officials in condoling with Kaetuai’s family in Kajiado, praising the fallen officer as a hero who sacrificed his life for global peace.
He assured that the well-being of the officers deployed for the mission in Haiti remains a top priority of the Kenyan government, and there is constant communication with the team to ensure they receive the necessary support.
The MSS mission, which began deployment in June 2024, is expected to grow to 2,500 personnel, with additional forces pledged by the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Guatemala.
However, with Haiti’s transitional government struggling to restore order and hold long-delayed elections, the success of the mission remains uncertain.
