Kenya has completed withdrawal of police officers from Haiti where they have been tackling gang-related violence and disorder in towns and cities for the last 18 months in the Caribean nation.

According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, the operation which was initiated by the U.S. administration under President Joe Biden was a "success" in reducing gang violence as well as restoration of order and peace.

"Working with Haiti National Police and other Multinational Security Support (MSS) officers, they secured critical infrastructure, including the airport, seaport, and major transport corridors. They also restored state presence in previously inaccessible areas and supported the reopening of schools, hospitals, and businesses," CS Murkomen noted in an update.

The drawdown of the last contingent of 150 police officers from marks the end of the MSS and the successful transition to the Gang Suppression Force, the CS explained.

As of January 2025, Kenya has deployed just over 600 uniformed men in the Caribbean nation as part of a multinational force to tackle gang violence. The personnel cut across, drawing from the security services' medical personnel, mechanics, and communication officers.

Gang violence

In June 2024, Kenya dispatched the first troops to the troubled Caribbean nation with President William Ruto pledging to deploy 1,000 troops as part of the United Nations-backed force in Haiti.

According to media reports, Haiti was grappling with gang violence that had left over 700,000 nationals homeless in recent years, with many crowding into makeshift and unsanitary shelters after gunmen razed their homes.

"Though the Mission has ended, Kenya’s solidarity with the people of Haiti is enduring. We extend our sincere appreciation to all partners who supported this Mission and reaffirm our commitment to multilateral cooperation in the maintenance of global peace and security," concluded CS Murkomen.

Despite its notable record of suppressing gang violence, the Kenya-led mission faced challenges, limited personnel and allegations of misconduct including sexual violations as captured in a recent UN report. 

In April 2026, officers from the MSS mission in Haiti were implicated in four cases of sexual exploitation and abuse, including allegations involving a 12-year-old girl.

The United Nations report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse said the cases were investigated and corroborated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 

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