Kenyan authorities reported on Sunday that a police officer deployed to Haiti to combat violence was killed during a clash with a gang. The incident took place in the Artibonite region, where Kenyan troops were conducting operations against gang activity. The Kenyan mission stated that the officers were responding to assistance requests from locals in Pont-Sonde.
The officer was airlifted for medical attention but ultimately died from their injuries, according to Godfrey Otunge, the commander of the Kenyan contingent in Haiti.
Following the incident, the officers pursued the attackers. Mission representative Jack Ombaka expressed gratitude for the support from hospital staff and Salvadoran forces:
“Our brave officer’s sacrifice is evident as they lost their life defending Haiti’s people,” remarked Ombaka.
The Gran Grif gang is notorious in the area.
This setback hinders the ongoing efforts to control Haiti’s gangs, which have been a significant issue since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Kenya has dispatched numerous officers to support Haiti’s struggling law enforcement; an additional 200 officers arrived in February, joining over 600 others already present as part of a multinational effort including personnel from Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador.