A Kenyan police officer deployed to Haiti under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission has gone missing after an ambush by armed gangs in the gang-ridden town of Pont-Sondé, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, when officers were assisting a Haitian police vehicle stuck in a ditch. According to a statement from the MSS mission, gangs lying in wait launched a surprise attack, sparking chaos and leading to the officer’s disappearance.
“Specialised teams have been deployed to search for the missing officer,” the mission stated.
While Haitian media reports speculate that the officer may have been killed, this remains unconfirmed, and efforts to locate him continue.
Growing Risks for Kenyan Forces in Haiti
This is the second major incident involving Kenyan officers in Haiti. In February, Constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, 26, was fatally shot during an operation in Ségur-Savien, marking Kenya’s first casualty in the mission. His body was repatriated and buried earlier this month.
Despite rising danger, the Kenya National Police Service (NPS) reaffirmed its commitment to the mission, stating that their personnel in Haiti remain focused on restoring law and order, even amid domestic calls for their withdrawal.
Kenya’s Role in Haiti’s Crisis
Kenya has deployed over 800 officers to support Haiti’s overwhelmed security forces. The deployment, part of a UN-backed effort, began in June 2024, aiming to stabilize a country where gangs control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding regions.
Haiti has seen over 5,500 deaths in gang violence in 2024 alone. More than one million people have been displaced by escalating violence and lawlessness.
The Kenyan-led MSS mission is tasked with supporting local police, reclaiming gang-occupied areas, and helping to reestablish state authority in a nation on the brink of collapse.
