Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission are facing renewed unrest as fresh protests erupted in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Sunday, May 5. The demonstrators are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and the transnational presidential council, accusing them of failing to address the country’s worsening insecurity and governance crisis.

Despite Kenya’s leadership role in the MSS mission and the deployment of over 800 officers since June 2024, the security situation in Haiti remains dire. Armed gangs continue to dominate key urban areas, with recent incursions reported in Petion-Ville, an upscale neighborhood home to banks, embassies, and other essential institutions.

The protests reflect growing frustration with the transitional government's inability to stabilize the country. Protesters accused the administration of complacency amid rising violence and growing recruitment of children into armed gangs.

“Haiti cannot be run among friends. The city is dying while the council looks the other way,” one protester told local media.

Violence continues to escalate. In the last four months alone, gangs have reportedly killed 1,600 people and injured 580 others. The United Nations estimates that 5,600 Haitians lost their lives to gang violence in 2024, with over one million displaced, exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis.

While the MSS mission has received backing from the United States and the United Nations, progress has been minimal. Planned elections are now at risk of being delayed, and the political transition team—barely a year old—is struggling to retain legitimacy.

The fate of the Kenyan mission remains uncertain. Some of the officers are expected to return home later this year, though it is unclear whether Kenya will extend its involvement. For now, Kenyan troops remain on the ground, caught between confronting heavily armed gangs and maintaining peace among increasingly disillusioned citizens.

Despite their efforts, the multinational force has made only limited headway in restoring stability. As Haiti teeters on the brink, international stakeholders and local leaders face mounting pressure to deliver lasting solutions to a country in crisis.