Kenyan officer killed during security operation in Haiti

A Kenyan police officer was killed in Haiti on Sunday in a security operation to help combat gang violence in the Caribbean nation.

The officer was among over 600 Kenyan officers working as part of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti since June 2024.

In a statement shared on social media, the mission force commander Godfrey Otunge confirmed the death without sharing full details of the incident. 

"Today, Sunday, February 23rd, 2025, one of our MSS officers from the Kenyan contingent was injured during an operation in SEGUR SAVIEN, in the Artibonite department. The officer was immediately airlifted to Aspen Level 2 Hospital but, unfortunately, succumbed to the injuries," Mr Otunge said in a statement.

In another statement, however, it emerged that residents of Seguin in Pont-Sonde had requested that officers attached to the MSS Mission conduct operations in the region.

This is after they conducted continuous security operations in Artibonite for days leading to the death of several gang members.

Following the pleas made by residents of Seguin the Kenyan officers alongside those attached to the Haiti National Police (HNP) responded without hesitation.

“This is the price our courageous officer paid—he was killed while fighting for the people of Haiti. His fellow officers, unwilling to accept the loss, immediately pursued and neutralized the gang member responsible,” a more detailed communication on the matter stated.

More to follow...