Kenya’s role in troubled Haiti hangs in the balance after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted to shut down the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and replace it with a stronger Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

The MSS officially ended on 2 October following the adoption of Resolution 2793, leaving uncertainty over whether Kenya’s 735 deployed officers will be recalled or absorbed into the new force.

A New Mission, Bigger Mandate

The GSF, authorised for 12 months, will deploy more than 5,500 personnel—five times the size of the MSS. Unlike its predecessor, the GSF will operate under a Chapter VII mandate, allowing it to launch counter-gang operations, secure key infrastructure, and restore state control in Haiti.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the move, calling it “an important step” towards stabilising the Caribbean nation.
“This is a critical effort to restore order, protect lives, and support Haiti’s path to stability and democracy,” Rubio said, stressing the importance of international burden-sharing.

Kenya’s Heavy Role and Frustrations

Kenya has shouldered the bulk of the MSS, contributing nearly three-quarters of its manpower since its first deployment in June 2025.

But Nairobi has expressed frustration over broken donor promises and insufficient equipment. President William Ruto recently said the mission was operating at only 40 per cent capacity.
“If we are sending an additional security team to Haiti, the mandate must be clear … and we must have a predictable resource package,” Ruto warned.

Kenya has also paid a heavy price, losing three officers, including one killed in an ambush earlier this year.

Diplomacy and Domestic Pressure

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei welcomed the UNSC decision but avoided confirming Kenya’s next steps.
“This is a policy decision to be made in due course and will be communicated,” he said, noting that the GSF reflects lessons from the MSS.

At home, however, critics are demanding a pull-out. Former presidential adviser Moses Kuria described the deployment as a “misadventure” and urged the police chief to redeploy returning officers to fight rising crime in Nairobi.
“I appeal to the Inspector General to deploy the returning forces to the streets of Nairobi to put an end to daylight muggings and pickpocketings,” Kuria said.

For now, Kenya’s 735 officers remain in Port-au-Prince, waiting for Nairobi to decide whether they will continue serving in the new mission or return home.