A Kenyan police officer was killed on Sunday February 23 in Haiti, marking the first casualty for the Kenyan-led security mission since its deployment to the country in June 2024.
The officer, who was part of the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti (MSSMH), sustained injuries during an operation in the Artibonite department, north of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Despite being airlifted to a hospital, he later succumbed to his wounds.
The mission’s spokesperson, Jack Ombaka, confirmed the officer’s death, stating that it occurred during a confrontation with gang members. This fatality is the first the Kenyan-led force has experienced since its arrival, tasked with supporting Haiti’s efforts to combat escalating gang violence that has displaced over a million people. The situation in Haiti has grown increasingly dire, with violent clashes between gangs and security forces becoming more frequent.
In a statement, the MSSMH paid tribute to the fallen officer, pledging to continue its efforts in the fight against gangs. “We salute our fallen hero,” the statement read, promising that the mission would not relent until the gangs responsible for the violence are defeated. This death comes amidst a worrying spike in gang-related violence in Port-au-Prince, which has seen increasing instability over the past week.