Kenyan Officer Injured in Haiti During Anti-Gang Security Mission

A Kenyan police officer deployed in the United Nations-backed Multinational Security Mission in Haiti was injured on Tuesday during an operation in Kenscoff, southeast of the capital Port-au-Prince.

The officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, sustained injuries in the Belot area and was swiftly evacuated to Aspen Hospital for medical attention. Mission spokesperson Jack Ombaka confirmed that the officer is in stable condition.

This incident comes less than a month after another Kenyan officer was killed in Haiti. On February 23, gangs fatally shot Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai during an operation in the western Segur-Savien region, near Pont Sonde. He was the first Kenyan casualty since the mission’s deployment in June last year. His body was repatriated last Tuesday.

Kenya has sent approximately 800 troops as part of the mission, which consists of over 1,000 personnel from countries including Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The multinational forces are working alongside Haiti’s national police to curb the escalating gang violence in the country.

Haiti has been plagued by surging violence, with more than 5,601 people killed in gang-related incidents last year 1,000 more than in 2023, according to United Nations reports.

The situation in Haiti remains dire as gangs continue to expand their control, forcing international intervention to restore order.