Kenyan Police Officer Killed in Haiti While Confronting Gang Members.

Members of the Departmental Law Enforcement Units secure an area after civilians and members of the National Police clashed with gangs, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. COURTESY IMAGE

A Kenyan police officer serving in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti has been killed during a confrontation with gang members. The officer, identified as 26-year-old Police Constable Samuel Kitwai, is the first casualty suffered by the Kenyan-led international force deployed to restore order in the violence-stricken country.

Constable Kitwai was part of a patrol team in Artibonite, a region north of the capital, Port-au-Prince, when he sustained injuries during an encounter with gang members. According to Gen Godfrey Otunge, the commander of the multinational force, the officer was immediately airlifted to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. His family has since been informed of his passing.

The MSS mission was deployed to Haiti in June 2024 to help combat rampant gang violence, which has led to the deaths of more than 5,500 people and displaced over a million. Gangs have taken control of nearly the entire capital and large rural areas, plunging the nation into a severe security crisis.

Following Constable Kitwai’s death, MSS spokesman Jack Ombaka described him as a “fallen hero” who lost his life while “fighting for the people of Haiti.” Kenya’s foreign ministry also expressed its grief, stating that it was “heartbroken by the loss” of the brave officer.

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by the security forces attempting to restore stability in Haiti, where armed gangs continue to exert control and terrorize communities.

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