Kenyan Troops in Haiti Operation Under Spotlight as UN Confirms Sexual Exploitation Cases

Kenyan troops deployed in Haiti under a United Nations-backed security mission called the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission are facing renewed scrutiny after the UN confirmed cases of sexual exploitation and abuse.

According to a UN report dated 16 February, four such cases were proven in 2025 within the multinational force, which is mainly composed of officers from Kenya.

The findings were first reported by a Haitian news outlet.

Kenyan Troops Under Spotlight Over Allegations of Sexual Abuse in Haiti

The report stated that all four cases were confirmed following investigations by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which reported that the victims were all females aged 12, 16, 16, and 18.

It added that the findings had been forwarded to the mission’s leaders for further action.

Also Read: Kenyan Police Officers Return Home After 18-Month Haiti Mission

The security mission was initially led by Kenya, which has sent most of the nearly 1,000 officers deployed since June 2024.

In September, the force was reorganised to make it larger and more effective in tackling gang violence.

Other countries, including Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Guatemala, and El Salvador, have sent smaller numbers of personnel.

Chad has also committed to sending 800 troops, with an advance team already in place.

Kenya Expected to Fully Withdraw its Troops by October

These allegations come at a time when several Kenyan officers who were part of the MSS mission recently returned to the country. The first contingent of over 200 officers returned around 9 December 2025 after completing an 18-month tour.

Also Read: Kenya’s Police Step Up as Haiti Mission Enters Critical Phase

The second major contingent of 215 officers returned on 17 March 2026, arriving in Nairobi that evening. They were welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) with celebrations, attended by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and DIG Eliud Lagat.

Additional groups returned in late March 2026, including a third contingent of approximately 208 officers around 24 March 2026.

Some Kenyan officers remain in Haiti temporarily as a “bridge” during the transition to the new UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which involves troops from countries such as Chad with initial arrivals beginning in early April 2026.

Full Kenyan withdrawal is expected around October 2026, although timelines may shift.

Currently, the operation, now called the Gang Suppression Force, is not a formal United Nations mission, limiting the UN’s direct control. Kenya’s withdrawal from the Haiti Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission is part of a planned transition to a larger UN-backed force that will still operate outside full UN command.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

Senior officials from the security docket in Kenya led by security adviser Joseph Boinet pose for a photo in Haiti. PHOTO/ NPS