Two Kenyan police officers have been killed in gang ambushes while serving in Haiti, highlighting major security and equipment failures in the UN-backed mission to restore order.
At a Glance
- Two Kenyan officers were killed in separate ambushes while deployed in Haiti.
- One officer died after a bullet pierced his helmet; others were wounded through armored vehicle breaches.
- Twenty armored vehicles have been pulled from service over safety concerns.
- Despite $300M in U.S. support, gangs still control about 80% of Port-au-Prince.
- Over 4,000 deaths have occurred since the mission’s launch, with violence continuing to escalate.
Kenyan Police Bear the Brunt in Haiti’s Spiraling Conflict
The UN-endorsed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, led primarily by Kenya, is facing mounting casualties and criticism after the deaths of two Kenyan police officers during gang attacks in the Artibonite region. Constable Samuel Kitwai was the first fatality in February, dying of gunshot wounds sustained during an operation in Pont-Sonde, according to Kenya’s National Police Service.
Shortly afterward, Corporal Benedict Kuria Kabiru was killed in another ambush. Reports say a bullet pierced his helmet, fatally striking him in the head. The incident raised immediate concerns about the adequacy of protective gear provided to deployed personnel. Two additional officers were seriously wounded in similar attacks—one hit in the ear by a bullet that penetrated an armored vehicle.
Watch video coverage of the fallen officers and escalating violence.
Gear Failures Undermine Operational Safety
The deaths have prompted outrage and resistance from deployed forces. At least twenty armored vehicles have now been grounded after it was revealed they failed to stop small arms fire, leading officers to refuse their use. As reported by the BBC, a Kenyan delegation will travel to Washington to demand accountability and safety upgrades from U.S. authorities, who supplied most of the gear under a $300 million aid package.
“The United States is grateful for the courageous Kenyan police who are serving in harm’s way,” said Marc Dillard from the U.S. embassy in Kenya, though many question whether that support has been matched with appropriate logistical backing.
Gangs Still Control the Capital
Despite international funding, MSS forces have struggled to reclaim territory. As many as 80% of Port-au-Prince remains under gang control, while violence has surged across the countryside. According to Nation Africa, over 4,000 people have died since Kenyan forces arrived. The gangs, many of them heavily armed with smuggled U.S. weapons, have only grown bolder.
The Viv Ansanm Coalition—a gang alliance led by ex-police officer Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier—has orchestrated mass jailbreaks and road blockades, with one prison raid freeing over 500 inmates. Commercial flights have been suspended after three planes were shot at by gang members.
International Pressure and Local Despair
In the aftermath of the deaths, Haiti’s transitional government honored the fallen Kenyans, stating one “made the ultimate sacrifice for a better future for our country.” Kenya’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said it was “heartbroken by the loss” and is engaged in efforts to recover the body of one slain officer, which is reportedly being held by gang members.
The MSS mission remains plagued by logistical failures, lack of manpower, and political instability. Though a temporary freeze in U.S. foreign aid was lifted, allowing mission funding to continue, the operational future remains uncertain. Even with strong international endorsements, Haitian security forces and MSS personnel remain outgunned and underprotected.
For now, Kenya and its partners must reckon with a grim reality: their efforts to restore order in Haiti have come at a high cost—and may yet be insufficient to break the grip of entrenched criminal networks.
