IG Douglas Kanja with the second team of the Kenyan Police team from Haiti. /MINAWhen visiting, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau credited Kenyan police for the stability in Haiti; many did not know it was the beginning of the end of their mission in the Caribbean nation.
Landau had come in January 2026 to officially thank Kenya for their mission in Haiti.
He credited their efforts with stabilising Haiti, warning that the government could have collapsed without their intervention.
Kenya led the Multinational Security Support mission, which later evolved into a more robust anti-gang operation supported with equipment and logistics from international partners.
Despite its successes, the mission recorded casualties, with at least three Kenyan officers killed in the line of duty.
Kenya initially deployed the officers to Haiti in June 2024 under a multinational mission aimed at restoring order amid escalating gang violence that had threatened to topple the government.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and General Service Unit Commandant Ranson Lolmodooni flew to Haiti to come with the 215 officers whose duty had come to an end.
This marked the official drawdown of the Kenyan personnel from Haiti ahead of the April 15, 2026 deadline.
The mission has now entered a transition and drawdown phase that will see more officers gradually return home from their tour of duty.
Part of the team on arrival at JKIA on March 17, 2026./MINA
“As you know, we helped to stabilize the country. We did much, and we praise our officers for the work done,” he said.
He added they had left a more stable country under a well-trained police team, which was remarkable.
During their
deployment, Kenyan forces played a key role in securing critical
infrastructure, including the main airport, hospitals, and major roads.
They also trained over 2,000 Haitian police
officers to continue operations after their departure.
Insiders said the withdrawal follows disagreements over command of the newly established Gang Suppression Force (GSF), with Kenya declining to continue its involvement after failing to secure leadership assurances.
Speaking during the reception ceremony, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo lauded the 700 officers for their historic deployment, noting that they answered the call to serve with courage and professionalism.
“It is with great national pride and deep gratitude that we welcome you back home,” he said.
“When the call came for Kenya to support efforts to restore peace and stability in Haiti, you stepped forward without hesitation.”
Dr. Omollo lauded the contingent for their
resilience and sacrifice while operating in a complex international security
environment, noting that their contribution has enhanced Kenya’s reputation as
a leader in peace support operations.
Omollo described the officers as heroes, thanking them for representing Kenya with honor under difficult and dangerous conditions far from home.
“To the families who lost their loved ones, please know that the Government of Kenya will continue to stand with you,” Omollo said.
The return of the second contingent comes as the mission begins a transition phase, with the initial deployment being gradually drawn down. Despite this shift, Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Haiti alongside international partners.
By leading the MSS mission, Kenya has strengthened its position as a key player in global peacekeeping and security efforts, marking a significant step in its expanding international role, officials said.
Officials said the progress made in Haiti underscores the importance of sustained international cooperation in addressing complex security challenges.
Before the Kenya Police were deployed to Haiti in efforts to suppress criminal gangs that were almost overrunning the capital Port-au-Prince, there was resistance and fears among many.
The matter was fought in courts and dragged the process up to June 2024, when the first team landed in the war-torn city.
The first contingent, comprising 400 officers, and the second, made up of 200 personnel, were drawn from a cross-section of elite Kenyan police units, including the General Service Unit (GSU), the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), and the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) of the Administration Police.
Their professionalism and discipline have been widely recognised by both Haitian authorities and international partners.The officers’ return follows a new UNSC resolution transitioning the UN mission into a specialised Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
In Haiti, Kanja and his team were received by officials led by the Consular General Noor Gabow.
Earlier on, speaking at Toussaint Louverture International Airport during the official reception ceremony, outgoing GSF Force Commander Godfrey Otunge hailed the deployment as a strong signal of Kenya’s long-term commitment to stabilizing Haiti and supporting the Haitian National Police (PNH).
Addressing the Haitian public directly, Otunge urged citizens to remain hopeful and assured them that the mission would continue until security is fully restored and conditions allow for “free, fair, and credible national elections.”
“We will win this fight. We will defeat those who have held communities hostage for far too long,” he said, calling on gang members to surrender and submit to state authority.
Officials said the progress made in Haiti underscores the importance of sustained international cooperation in addressing complex security challenges.
Present at JKIA were National Security Adviser Monica Juma, who was recently appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna; and Inspector General Emeritus Joseph Boinnet, who joined in recognizing the officers’ distinguished service.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Chad is set to gradually take over the Kenyan-led police contingent in Haiti as part of the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), with full deployment expected by October 2026, Dominican Republic officials said on Tuesday.
The new GSF team is set to officially take over after April 15, and so far dozens of countries have pledged troops to the force.
Roberto Alvarez, the Dominican Republic’s foreign minister, said new Chadian troops are currently undergoing training in the United States, paving the way for a phased withdrawal of Kenyan personnel.
“The transition will not be immediate, allowing the incoming forces time to arrive and familiarize themselves with operations,” he explained.
Deployments are expected to reach their full operational strength of 5,500 personnel by October. The force’s initial 12-month mandate expires at the end of September 2026, though the U.N. Security Council may vote to extend it.
The GSF is the successor to the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, established to help Haitian authorities combat heavily armed gangs destabilizing the country.
While the MSS and the new GSF rely on voluntary contributions from member states, initial deployments have been limited due to shortages of troops, funding, and equipment.
Currently, the GSF primarily consists of Kenyan police officers, with smaller contingents from Central American and Caribbean countries. Chad, along with Benin and Bangladesh, had pledged contributions to the mission in 2023, but the Chadian force is the first of these to begin deployment.
The United Nations and partner countries hope that the strengthened GSF will stabilise Haiti, where gang violence has killed thousands and displaced over a million people, most of whom are threatened by armed groups supplied with weapons trafficked from abroad
In December 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States had received pledges of up to 7,500 security personnel for a gang suppression force in Haiti.
The U.N. Security Council agreed at the end of September 2025 to more than double the size of a 15-month-old, underfunded, and understaffed international security mission combating armed gangs in Haiti and rename it a gang suppression force.
"We were looking for 5,500 forces. We already have pledges of up to 7,500 forces from a variety of countries. We've seen donors step up to fund that effort," Rubio told reporters.
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