A police officer from Kenya sadly lost his life on Sunday after succumbing to gunshot injuries inflicted during a violent clash with criminal gangs in Seguin, which is situated in Pont-Sonde, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The officer was part of a Kenyan police contingent tasked with fighting organized crime in the area when he was shot and critically wounded. After the attack, he was airlifted to Aspen Level Two Hospital, where he ultimately passed away due to the severity of his injuries.
Godfrey Otunge, the commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, confirmed the officer’s death. Otunge remarked, “On February 23, 2025, one of our MSS officers from the Kenyan unit was injured during an operation in Segur-Savien, Artibonite. He was promptly transferred to Aspen Level Two Hospital, yet tragically, he did not survive.” This incident marks the first loss for the Kenyan unit since their deployment to Haiti in June 2024 to aid efforts against escalating violence from criminal gangs.
The Kenyan unit, consisting of nearly 800 officers, is part of a wider international security initiative aimed at stabilizing Haiti. While the mission intends to have 1,000 officers, the team has been diligently working to dismantle gang activities, especially in the Artibonite region. Recently, the Kenyan police had been actively engaged in security operations, achieving notable success in diminishing the power of criminal gangs. Consequently, local residents in Seguin had expressed urgent requests for similar measures to be implemented in their community.
In response to these appeals, the Kenyan officers courageously moved into Seguin to tackle the gang violence directly. “This courageous officer made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the people of Haiti,” Otunge noted. “His fellow officers, heartbroken by this loss, pursued the assailant responsible and swiftly neutralized him.”
The commander expressed appreciation for the El Salvador Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) team, who reacted quickly to the emergency, as well as the medical staff at the hospital who did everything they could to save the officer’s life. Despite their best attempts, the officer’s injuries proved to be fatal.
The Kenyan force is part of a United Nations-supported multinational contingent, which includes personnel from several countries such as Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Belize, and is projected to expand to a total of 2,500 members. However, experts have voiced concerns that even with this increased force, the mission might find it difficult to achieve lasting peace in the area. The absence of a permanent presence by police or military forces could allow criminal gangs to reemerge and resume their activities.
Security experts also warn that while the mission’s target of 2,500 personnel is significant, it may still be insufficient to tackle the extensive gang violence effectively. Despite these obstacles, the international force remains dedicated to its mission, and the Kenyan officers continue to fulfill their duty, standing firm in the face of danger to safeguard the Haitian populace.
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