May 8, 2026
REPORT: Kenya Begins Haiti Mission Withdrawal Next Week

REPORT: Kenya Begins Haiti Mission Withdrawal Next Week

Kenyan police officers stationed in Haiti are beginning to return home, with the final wave of roughly 400 policemen set to depart the Caribbean nation next week.

The group will be replaced by another that is due to depart on a chartered jet, according to officials.

Their departure signals the end of a year-long Multinational Security Support (MSS) deployment, during which Kenya played a critical role in assisting the Haitian National Police (HNP) in the face of growing gang violence.

The returning officers are part of a larger deployment of approximately 800 cops, which has been in Haiti since June 2024.

The first contingent, consisting of 400 officers, and the second, consisting of 200 people, were selected from a variety of elite Kenyan police forces.

The group consisted of the Administration Police’s General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), and Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU).

The troops worked under the supervision of force commander Geoffrey Otunge, who oversaw the mission from the start.

A team of approximately 170 men is planned to leave Kenya this weekend to relieve the first and second contingents of their posts.

The cops chosen for the team had previously received training.

They were recalled Thursday to the GSU Training School for final briefings and preparations ahead of their departure.

Meanwhile, a group of officers from the main camp in Port-au-Prince were redeployed Thursday to the Port-de-Paix base.

The officers will hold the positions at the base temporarily as the departing team moves to Port-au-Prince, the capital, ahead of the scheduled return to Nairobi.

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The rotation, according to officers privy to this, is to ensure continuity in security operations and prevent any gaps that could be exploited by gangs.

The deployment of MSS was approved by a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution in October 2023, reflecting the international community’s recognition of the urgent security challenges facing Haiti.

During their year-long mission, the MSS officers participated in joint patrols, secured sensitive locations, and trained local police units, contributing to a safer environment for both residents and humanitarian organisations.

Their professionalism and discipline have been widely recognised by both Haitian authorities and international partners.

REPORT: Kenya Begins Haiti Mission Withdrawal Next Week

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