2 Kenyan Police In Haiti Seriously Injured After Week-Long Gang Attack

Two Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti to combat marauding gangs are nursing serious injuries sustained from gunshots during deadly clashes with armed gangs over the past week.

This fresh turn of events was revealed by three officers who were speaking on the condition of anonymity to Reuters. One officer was shot in the head after a bullet pierced his helmet, while another was hit in the ear when a bullet penetrated the walls of an armored vehicle.

The two injured officers were attacked during routine patrols in and around Port-au-Prince, where heavily armed gangs have been responsible for thousands of deaths since 2021.

Multinational Security Support (MSS) spokesperson Jack Ombaka confirmed that both officers had been evacuated to the Dominican Republic for medical treatment. "As in any mission, casualties are sometimes unavoidable," Ombaka stated.

The three officers reported that attacks by gangs are becoming more frequent and raised concerns over inadequate protective gear.

Following these incidents, 20 armored vehicles have been grounded since the weekend after officers refused to use them, citing their failure to provide adequate protection.

This marks the second instance of a vehicle failing to stop a bullet, the officers noted, highlighting the growing dangers facing the MSS mission.

Kenya first deployed its officers to Haiti in June as part of the MSS mission, which currently consists of around 1,000 security personnel, with nearly three-quarters coming from the East African nation. 

The mission aims to restore stability in Haiti to enable elections by February 2026. However, it has faced morale challenges and uncertainty over its expansion amid surging gang violence.

The MSS suffered its first fatality in February, and another Kenyan officer was reported missing last week. According to the three officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, the missing officer is presumed dead, amidst divided opinion on the matter.

In response to the latest attack, an MSS delegation is scheduled to travel to Washington this week to raise concerns about the quality of protective equipment with U.S. officials, according to two senior MSS officers.

The United States has been the primary funder and supplier of equipment for the mission, which has struggled to attract substantial contributions from other nations. During his March 30 address, Kanja reassured that U.S. funding for the Haiti mission remained intact, despite reports suggesting the operation was at risk due to rumored budget cuts.

While Kenya has justified its involvement in Haiti on humanitarian grounds, analysts suggest that the deployment is also driven by a strategic effort to bolster the country's international standing and strengthen ties with the U.S.

The U.S. State Department had yet to respond when Reuters sought the department for comment.

A photo of gangs in Haiti. /AL JAZEERA