In a troubling escalation of violence, two Kenyan police officers were seriously injured in clashes with gangs in Haiti over the past week, according to three officers who spoke to RNG247 on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. This incident adds to the list of casualties within the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which has increasingly come under fire in the country’s unstable environment.

Kenya deployed its police personnel to Haiti last June as part of the MSS, which currently comprises around 1,000 security forces, with approximately 75% hailing from Kenya. The mission aims to restore stability in Haiti to facilitate elections scheduled for February 2026. However, it has faced ongoing morale challenges and uncertainty regarding potential expansions amid a surge in gang-related violence. The mission suffered its first fatality earlier this year in February, and last week, reports emerged of another Kenyan officer missing and presumed dead.

The recent injuries occurred during routine patrols in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince, an area predominantly controlled by heavily armed gangs responsible for thousands of deaths since 2021. MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka confirmed that both injured officers were evacuated to the Dominican Republic for urgent medical attention. 

"As in any mission, casualties are sometimes unavoidable," Ombaka stated, as tension continues to rise among deployed forces.

The three anonymous officers indicated that the frequency of attacks has escalated, coinciding with complaints about inadequate equipment. One officer sustained a gunshot wound to the head after a bullet pierced through his helmet, while another was injured when a bullet penetrated the walls of their armored vehicle, striking him in the ear. Complaints regarding vehicle safety have led to the grounding of twenty armored vehicles, as officers expressed their refusal to use them, citing that this incident marked the second time such vehicles failed to offer adequate protection.

An MSS delegation is set to travel to Washington this week to discuss concerns regarding the quality of protective gear with U.S. officials, according to two senior MSS officers. The United States has been the primary source of funding and equipment for the mission, which has struggled to gain substantial contributions from other nations.

While the Kenyan government has framed its intervention in Haiti as a humanitarian effort, analysts suggest that the mission also serves as a means to elevate Kenya's international standing and strengthen ties with the United States.

In response to inquiries about equipment concerns, Ombaka noted, "MSS continues to receive increased logistical support from partners and stakeholders, with assurances that all equipment meets international standards.” 

The U.S. State Department has yet to offer a response to requests for comments on the evolving situation.