By Sandrine Exil
Port-au-Prince, (EFE).- Since June 2024, Kenyan soldiers deployed to Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Mission (MSS) have been on the frontlines of a violent and deteriorating crisis in Port-au-Prince.
Tasked with patrolling areas under gang control, they operate under intense pressure, facing well-armed criminals and harsh conditions.
“We’re the only ones actually confronting the gangs,” said a Kenyan officer, speaking anonymously. “Other countries handle building security or evacuate the wounded. The dangerous part is left to us.”
A convoy of armored vehicles makes its way through the dusty streets of Pétion-Ville, near Toussaint Louverture International Airport, still partially controlled by gangs.
Soldiers communicate in English, weapons drawn, scanning their surroundings.
Multiple Kenyan troops have been killed or injured since deployment, including fatal incidents in Artibonite and ambushes in July 2024 and March 2025. “The criminals have better weapons than we do,” a soldier itted.
Internal tensions and strategic confusion
With nearly 90% of the capital controlled by gangs, more than 5,6000 people killed in 2024, and over one million displaced, Haiti’s humanitarian crisis is escalating.
The overwhelmed national police force relies heavily on the MSS, yet Kenyan officers report deep frustrations within the mission.
According to police general Douglas Kanja, deployed officers received pay only through Oct. 2024, months after the mission began, confirming what international outlets have also reported.
Soldiers complain of faulty armored vehicles, lack of air , and poor logistical planning. “Some call themselves ‘specialists’ in avoiding patrols,” said a soldier. “It all depends on who you know.”
Failures in command and coordination
Sources point to operational failures and questionable decisions from leadership.
“Our commander sent us to Pont-Sondé while there are still gang-held neighborhoods near the airport,” said a soldier. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Others say failed operations stem from insufficient backup and flawed strategies. “The mission lacks direction,” one officer explained. “We are asked to do too much with too little.”
Despite from countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, the multinational force has so far failed to curb organized crime in Haiti.
Kenyan soldiers, over 1,000 of whom are deployed, feel isolated and overburdened. “We are alone out there,” said a soldier. “And we’re paying the price for it.”
Meanwhile, Haiti’s crisis deepens, with armed groups continuing to expand their grip on the capital, and the international mission struggling to deliver results. EFE
seo/mcd
