PORT-AU-PRINCE – Two Kenyan police officers involved in the internationally backed security mission in Haiti were seriously injured in separate clashes with gangs over the past week, raising fresh concerns about the dangers of the operation and the adequacy of equipment largely supplied by the United States.
The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, heavily funded and equipped by the U.S., has seen its casualty list grow. Sources within the mission confirmed the recent injuries occurred during patrols in and around the gang-controlled capital, Port-au-Prince.
This follows the mission’s first confirmed fatality in February and the disappearance last week of another Kenyan officer, who colleagues now fear is dead.
Disturbingly, officers involved in the mission are questioning the quality of their protective gear. According to three officers who spoke anonymously, one of the recently injured policemen was shot in the head after a bullet pierced his helmet. The other was hit in the ear when a gunshot penetrated the armor of a specialized vehicle.
These incidents have reportedly shaken confidence in the equipment provided. The officers stated that twenty armored vehicles have been sidelined since the weekend after personnel refused to use them, citing this as the second instance where a vehicle’s armor failed to stop incoming fire.
The concerns are significant enough that a delegation from the MSS mission leadership plans to travel to Washington D.C. this week to directly address U.S. officials regarding the protective gear’s quality, two senior mission sources revealed. The U.S. State Department has been the primary coordinator for funding and equipping the force, which has struggled to gain broad international support beyond Kenya’s significant troop contribution.
The MSS mission, which began deploying personnel including around 750 Kenyans in June 2024, currently numbers about 1,000 total security personnel. Its mandate is to help Haitian authorities quell rampant gang violence and restore enough security to hold long-delayed elections, currently hoped for by February 2026. However, the force has faced escalating attacks and internal morale challenges.
MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka confirmed two officers were medically evacuated to the Dominican Republic, stating, “As in any mission, casualties are sometimes unavoidable.” Regarding equipment concerns, Ombaka added, “MSS continues to receive increased logistical support from partners and stakeholders, with assurances that all equipment meets international standards.”
While Kenya has stated its involvement is driven by humanitarian concerns, analysts suggest motivations also include enhancing its international standing and strengthening ties with the United States.
The U.S. State Department did not provide an immediate comment on the equipment concerns or the planned meeting when asked by reporters. The escalating violence and now overt questions about the U.S.-supplied equipment add complexity to the challenging stabilization effort in Haiti.
