A Kenyan police officer, Bénédict Kabiru, has been killed in Haiti while serving in the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, dealing another blow to the controversial deployment.
Kabiru was part of a unit sent to recover a Haitian police vehicle trapped in a ditch—believed to have been dug by gangs—when the team came under attack from suspected gang members on Tuesday. Initially reported missing, his death was later confirmed by the MSS.
Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council hailed Kabiru’s “ultimate sacrifice” in the fight against rampant gang violence. His death marks the second fatality among Kenyan officers since the mission began deploying in June 2023.
The MSS force, meant to help stabilize Haiti, has faced increasing opposition in Kenya, where critics argue that officers are being sent into an excessively dangerous situation. Despite growing calls for withdrawal, President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the mission.
