The Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which includes Kenyan troops deployed to Haiti, has dismissed recent reports alleging the deaths of two Kenyan officers during an operation in the Caribbean nation. In a statement released on Monday, October 20, 2025, the multinational force clarified that all its personnel were safe and that no Kenyan officer had lost their life during the recent engagements.

The GSF, in partnership with the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H), conducted a joint operation in the Artibonite Department. This operation, focused along the Petite-Rivière–Liancourt–Pont Sondé route, aimed to dismantle gang networks and reopen critical transport corridors previously blocked by armed groups. During the security operation, gangs from the Gran-Griff group offered heavy resistance, leading to an exchange of fire before they were subdued. These events reportedly led to widespread rumours of Kenyan casualties.

Gang members attempted to fortify their positions by digging trenches and occupying high-rise buildings, from which they launched Molotov cocktails at security forces. However, specialised units from the GSF, which recently rebranded from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), and the PNH neutralised these threats. This action ensured safe passage for residents and facilitated the delivery of armoured vehicles to nearby police stations.

Historical and Political Context

Kenya first announced its readiness to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti in July 2023, following a call for international assistance from then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The United Nations Security Council approved the deployment of a multinational mission to support Haiti in October 2023. The first contingent of Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The mission, initially known as the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, faced legal challenges in Kenya, with a High Court ruling it unconstitutional in January 2024 before a bilateral agreement was secured.

The MSS mission transitioned into the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) on October 2, 2025, following a UN Security Council Resolution adopted on September 30, 2025. This rebranding signifies an expanded mandate and a strengthened operational framework, with an authorised deployment of up to 5,500 uniformed personnel and 50 civilian staff. The GSF is mandated to conduct intelligence-led, targeted counter-gang operations, either independently or jointly with Haitian forces, and has the authority to arrest and detain suspected gang members.

Casualties and Concerns

While the GSF has denied recent claims of Kenyan deaths, the mission has experienced casualties. Corporal Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, a Kenyan officer, died on Sunday, August 31, 2025, following a tragic road accident in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. The accident occurred around 5:00 PM EAT along the Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road at Perlerin 9 during a recovery operation involving two armoured vehicles. Corporal Nzuve was rushed to Lambert Santé Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His body was repatriated to Kenya on Friday, September 26, 2025.

Prior to this, another Kenyan police officer serving in the MSS mission died on February 23, 2025, after sustaining injuries during an operation in SÉGUR - SAVIEN in the Artibonite department. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, in April 2025, affirmed that only one officer had been confirmed dead at that time, with another reported missing. Two other officers were injured in an ambush but were recovering.

Evidence and Data

The Artibonite Department has been a focal point of armed violence in Haiti. A report by the National Network for the Defence of Human Rights (RNDDH) on October 9, 2025, indicated that between January and September 2025, at least 24 massacres and armed attacks occurred in 25 localities across eight municipalities in the department, resulting in 84 deaths, including four police officers and two agents of the MSS. Gangs like Gran Grif and Kokorat San Ras have been particularly active, aiming to control key roadways and agricultural areas.

Since the arrival of Kenyan police officers in Haiti, gang violence has reportedly intensified. A UN report from April 1, 2025, indicated that over 4,000 people had been killed in Haiti since the deployment began. Between July 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025, at least 4,329 people died in gang-related incidents, and another 1,356 were injured. The UN estimates that 73 percent of these deaths were related to gang violence, with 92 percent resulting from firearm use.

What to Watch

The GSF's expanded mandate and increased personnel aim to enhance operational effectiveness against the entrenched gang violence in Haiti. The mission's success will depend on sustained international support, adequate resources, and effective coordination with Haitian security forces. The international community will be closely watching how the GSF navigates the complex security landscape and addresses the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Further updates on security operations and the well-being of deployed personnel are anticipated.