NAIROBI, Kenya – Two Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti have sustained serious injuries in escalating clashes with armed gangs over the past week, three officers told Reuters.
The latest casualties add to growing concerns over the safety and effectiveness of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which has been facing frequent attacks.
Kenya first sent security personnel to Haiti in June 2024 as part of the MSS mission, which now comprises approximately 1,000 officers, with Kenyans making up about three-quarters of the force.
The mission’s primary objective is to stabilize the violence-ravaged nation and pave the way for elections by February 2026.
However, morale within the mission has been shaky from the start, and recent events have raised further questions about its viability.
The MSS suffered its first fatality in February, and last week, a Kenyan officer went missing—believed to be dead, according to three officers who spoke anonymously due to fear of reprisal.
The two injured officers were wounded during routine patrols in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, which remains largely controlled by heavily armed gangs.
One officer was shot in the head after a bullet penetrated his helmet, while the other sustained an ear injury when a bullet went through the walls of an armored vehicle.
Following the attack, Kenyan officers refused to use 20 armored vehicles, grounding them over concerns about their effectiveness.
This marks the second time a vehicle has failed to stop a bullet, raising alarm about the quality of protective gear provided to the mission.
An MSS delegation is set to travel to Washington this week to raise these concerns with U.S. officials, according to two senior MSS officers.
The United States has been the primary financier and supplier of equipment for the mission, though significant contributions from other nations have been limited.
MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka confirmed that the two injured officers had been evacuated to the Dominican Republic for medical care.
“As in any mission, casualties are sometimes unavoidable,” he said.
When asked about concerns over faulty equipment, Ombaka insisted that MSS continues to receive logistical support from partners, with assurances that all equipment meets international standards.
Kenya has justified its involvement in Haiti on humanitarian grounds, though analysts suggest the deployment is also aimed at strengthening Kenya’s international standing and securing favor with the U.S.
However, with gang violence intensifying and questions mounting over the mission’s preparedness, the initiative faces an uncertain future.
