Kenyan officer missing in Haiti after gang ambush

A Kenyan police officer deployed in Haiti as part of an international security mission has gone missing after an ambush by armed gangs in Pont-Sondé.

The Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti in a notice on Wednesday, confirmed in a statement that the officer was unaccounted for following the attack.

Specialized teams have since been deployed to search for him and establish his whereabouts.

The ambush occurred when a Haitian National Police (HNP) armored vehicle on patrol along the Carrefour Paye-Savien Main Supply Route got stuck in a ditch, while another developed mechanical issues.

MSS officials believe the ditch was deliberately dug by gang members who later launched an attack.

“As the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. As a result of the incident, one MSS Kenyan contingent officer remains unaccounted for,” the statement read.

In response, MSS dispatched two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from Pont-Sondé to assist in the recovery operation. However, the situation escalated, leading to the officer's disappearance.

The incident comes just weeks after the burial of Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, a Kenyan officer who was killed in Haiti while on duty.

Kaetuai was laid to rest in Naserian Village, Kajiado East, on March 10, after his body was flown back to Kenya.

His family described him as a dedicated officer, a loving husband to Naomi Naneu Tompoi, and a devoted father to his children, Ryan Lemayian and Talia Nashumu.

Speaking at his burial, relatives and colleagues remembered him as a disciplined officer who served with integrity and remained committed to his oath of duty, even during his deployment in Haiti.

Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, Gilbert Masengeli, led a delegation of officers in receiving Kaetuai’s remains upon arrival in Kenya.

The National Police Service later reported that Kaetuai had been shot by suspected gang members during an operation and succumbed to his injuries despite efforts to rush him to the hospital.

Haiti continues to face worsening gang violence, with the United Nations reporting 5,601 killings in 2024—an increase of 1,000 compared to the previous year.

The UN has also documented 315 lynchings of suspected gang members and 281 summary executions allegedly carried out by police.

The crisis has displaced over one million Haitians, according to the UN migration agency, further complicating security efforts in the country.

The Kenyan-led peacekeeping mission faced uncertainty in February after the US temporarily suspended international funding following a directive by President Donald Trump.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later issued a waiver, allowing the operation to proceed.