Kenyan police officer goes missing in Haiti

By Newsflash Correspondent

The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed that a Kenyan police officer deployed to an international security mission in Haiti went missing after he and his colleagues were ambushed by suspected gang members while on patrol.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 25, in the town of Pont-Sonde. According to a statement from the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti (MSS), the officers were responding to distress calls from Haitian police after one of their vehicles got stuck in a ditch, suspected to have been deliberately dug by gangs to trap security forces.

However, as the MSS officers attempted to assist their Haitian counterparts, they encountered further difficulties. One of their vehicles became stuck, while another developed a mechanical problem, leaving them vulnerable to attack.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 26, NPS Director of Corporate Communications, Muchiri Nyaga, provided further clarification on the incident.

“The officer was reported missing while on duty on March 25, 2025, following an ambush along the Carrefour Paye-Savien main supply route in the Pont-Sonde area, Artibonite Department,” the statement read.

Specialized search teams have since been deployed to locate the missing officer, the MSS confirmed.

Conflicting reports and rising concerns

Haitian media reports have claimed that the missing officer was killed, but no official confirmation has been provided by Kenyan or international security agencies.

The Kenya-led MSS was launched last year to support Haitian authorities in combating the surge in gang violence that has seen criminal groups seize control of approximately 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Since June 2024, around 800 Kenyan police officers have been deployed to the troubled Caribbean nation as part of the mission.

This latest incident comes just weeks after another Kenyan officer was shot and killed by gangs in Haiti in February. His body was repatriated and buried in Kenya last week.

Political fallout and concerns over mission resources

The deployment of Kenyan officers to Haiti has been met with mixed reactions back home. Opposition leaders have raised concerns over the safety and preparedness of the MSS personnel, arguing that they require better equipment and logistical support to handle the volatile situation in Haiti.

Adding to the challenges, the MSS recently suffered a financial setback after US President Donald Trump froze some of its funding as part of broader cuts to foreign assistance programs.

Meanwhile, the United Nations continues to raise alarm over the deteriorating security situation in Haiti. According to the UN, more than one million people have been displaced due to gang violence.

William O’Neill, the UN’s human rights expert on Haiti, recently visited the country and called for urgent action.

“These violent criminal groups continue to extend and consolidate their hold even beyond the capital,” O’Neill stated.

“They kill, rape, terrorize, and set fire to homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, and places of worship,” he added, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the nation.

Looking ahead

As search efforts for the missing Kenyan officer continue, questions remain over the long-term viability of Kenya’s involvement in the MSS. With growing security concerns, strained resources, and political debate back home, the fate of Kenyan personnel in Haiti hangs in the balance.

The Kenyan government has yet to make an official statement on whether it will reassess its commitment to the mission in light of these challenges.