By DENIS LUBANGA
On Monday, April 27, 2026, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen led a high-level Kenyan delegation to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, marking the official end of Kenya’s role in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
The delegation, which included Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and National Security Advisor Joseph Boinett, held meetings with Haitian authorities and the diplomatic community as they oversaw the withdrawal of the final contingent of 150 Kenyan officers. The drawdown effectively concluded the Kenya-led MSS mission and ushered in a transition to a new force, the Gang Suppression Force.
Kenya had taken a leading role in the MSS mission following its authorization by the United Nations Security Council in 2023. The mission was designed to support the Haitian National Police in combating powerful armed gangs that had destabilised the country, displaced millions, and severely disrupted humanitarian operations and daily life.
At its peak, Kenya deployed more than 980 police officers, who were tasked with securing key installations, reclaiming gang-controlled territories, and restoring public order. Their presence was seen by many Haitians as a crucial buffer against escalating violence, though it also sparked debate over the effectiveness and legitimacy of foreign intervention.
As the mission concluded, Murkomen praised the Kenyan officers for their service, saying they had performed with “utmost dedication” and upheld the country’s reputation.
“For 18 months, working closely with the Haitian National Police, our officers have helped restore order in key areas,” Murkomen said. “They have pushed back gang activities and created conditions necessary for Haiti’s political process to move forward.”
He pointed to what he described as significant progress, including the peaceful transfer of executive power on February 7, 2026, following the end of the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate. According to the Cabinet Secretary, a government that had once been at risk of collapse was now regaining stability.
Murkomen also credited the Kenyan contingent with securing critical infrastructure such as the airport, seaport and major transport corridors, as well as supporting the reopening of schools, hospitals and businesses. In some areas, displaced families had begun returning home and economic activity was slowly resuming.
Inspector General Kanja echoed these sentiments, telling officers that their work had exceeded expectations despite early skepticism.
“You have left Haiti much better than it was 18 months ago,” he said. “You are now going back to Nairobi to rejoin your colleagues and take up other national duties.”
Kanja added that the mission had provided valuable operational experience that would help strengthen Kenya’s policing strategies and training programs, particularly through a planned After Action Review.
However, the mission’s conclusion has reignited debate at home, with critics questioning both its necessity and effectiveness.
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka maintained that the mission was misguided from the outset.
“We said right from the beginning that we should not have taken our boys to Haiti,” he said, recalling calls for the officers’ withdrawal following casualties. “Without a proper UN mandate, Kenya had no business being there.”
Similarly, lawyer and mediator Fanya Mambo Kinuthia criticised the financial cost, arguing that Kenya had no strategic interest in Haiti. He claimed the country spent billions of shillings on the mission, funds he said could have been redirected to domestic priorities such as education and social programs.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also opposed the deployment, arguing that Kenya should prioritise its own internal security challenges.
“You cannot walk safely in Nairobi after 6 pm, yet our officers are deployed thousands of miles away,” he said, alleging mismanagement and questioning the government’s motives.
Despite these criticisms, government officials have defended the mission as part of Kenya’s broader commitment to international peace and security.
The operation was not without challenges. President William Ruto previously acknowledged significant logistical and operational constraints, including inadequate personnel, insufficient equipment, and unreliable support systems from international partners. At one point, the mission was operating below its intended capacity of 2,500 personnel, with fewer than 1,000 deployed.
Financial uncertainty also affected operations. In early 2025, over $13 million in U.S. funding for the mission was frozen following a 90-day foreign aid review under President Donald Trump. Although other countries contributed to a UN trust fund totaling over $110 million, the funding disruptions highlighted the mission’s reliance on voluntary support.
Casualties further underscored the risks faced by Kenyan officers. At least three officers lost their lives during the mission, including Constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, who was killed during an operation in February 2025; Benedict Kabiru, whose death was confirmed after he went missing during an attack; and Corporal Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, who died in a road accident. The government has since honoured the fallen officers for their service.
The mission also faced reputational challenges. In April 2026, Kenya formally protested a United Nations report that alleged sexual abuse involving personnel under the Kenyan-led force. The report cited four cases, including allegations involving minors.
Kenya strongly rejected the claims, with Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stating that investigations found the allegations to be unsubstantiated and that no formal complaints had been filed. However, the UN report indicated that its findings were based on investigations by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighting a point of contention between Kenya and the international body.
On the ground in Haiti, the departure of Kenyan officers was met with mixed reactions. In some areas, residents attempted to block the withdrawal, fearing that the exit of the multinational force would leave communities exposed to renewed gang violence.
In towns such as St. Mark’s and Pont Sonde, protesters erected barricades and gathered in large numbers to express concern over their security. In response, authorities deployed helicopters to evacuate officers, bypassing blocked roads and underscoring the tense environment surrounding the mission’s end.
Murkomen acknowledged that the mission had operated under significant constraints, including limited infrastructure and resources, but maintained that it had delivered meaningful results.
“At its peak, the mission deployed fewer than 1,000 personnel against an authorised strength of 2,500,” he said. “Yet even with these limitations, the mission achieved significant outcomes.”
With the MSS mission now concluded, responsibility for security operations has shifted to the newly established Gang Suppression Force, a larger international effort expected to build on the groundwork laid by the Kenyan-led deployment.
For Kenya, the end of the Haiti mission marks the close of a complex and often controversial chapter in its foreign policy—one defined by a mix of diplomatic ambition, operational challenges, and sharply divided public opinion.
