Two Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti have been seriously injured in escalating clashes with gangs over the past week, according to three officers who spoke anonymously to Reuters. The injuries highlight the growing risks faced by the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which has been under frequent attack.
Kenya initially sent officers to Haiti last June as part of the MSS mission, which currently has around 1,000 security personnel, three-quarters of whom are Kenyan. The mission aims to restore sufficient security to hold elections in Haiti by February 2026 but has struggled with morale issues and uncertainty over potential expansion amid surging gang violence.
The mission suffered its first fatality in February, and an officer reported missing last week is now presumed dead, according to the three officers. The two recent injuries occurred during routine patrols in and around Port-au-Prince, a city largely controlled by heavily armed gangs blamed for thousands of deaths since 2021.
MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka confirmed that the injured officers had been evacuated to the Dominican Republic for medical treatment. “As in any mission, casualties are sometimes unavoidable,” Ombaka stated.
The injured officers were struck by gunfire despite wearing protective gear. One officer was shot in the head after a bullet pierced his helmet, while another was injured when a bullet penetrated an armored vehicle’s walls.
The three officers revealed that 20 armored vehicles have been grounded since the weekend after officers refused to use them, citing concerns over inadequate protection. This incident marks the second time an MSS vehicle failed to stop a bullet, intensifying criticism over the mission’s equipment.
An MSS delegation is set to meet U.S. officials in Washington this week to address concerns about the quality of protective gear, according to two senior MSS officers. The U.S., which has provided most of the mission’s funding and equipment, has yet to respond to inquiries on the matter.
Kenya’s government has cited humanitarian reasons for intervening in Haiti, though analysts suggest the move is also aimed at boosting Kenya’s international standing and strengthening ties with the United States.
Ombaka reiterated that the MSS mission continues to receive enhanced logistical support from partners and stakeholders, assuring that all equipment meets international standards.
