Port-au-Prince, Haiti — The Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the multinational unit leading peacekeeping efforts in Haiti, has dismissed reports claiming that two Kenyan officers were killed during recent operations in the Caribbean nation.

In a statement released Monday, the force confirmed that no Kenyan personnel had died and that all troops were safe and accounted for, following an intense week of joint security operations against armed gangs.

“There has been no loss of Kenyan life in the past week,” the GSF said. “All our officers remain safe. Reports suggesting otherwise are false.”

Heavy Clashes, No Casualties Reported

The clarification followed online rumours that two Kenyans were killed during a joint mission between the GSF, the Haitian National Police (PNH), and the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H).

The operation, carried out in the Artibonite Department, targeted gang networks along the Petite-Rivière–Liancourt–Pont Sondé corridor, a stretch of road long controlled by armed groups.

According to the GSF, gangs from the Gran-Griff network resisted the security advance, prompting an exchange of fire before being subdued. Residents later reported seeing armoured vehicles and security convoys moving through the reopened route.

“The aim was to restore safe passage for civilians and critical supplies,” a security source familiar with the operation told local media.

Gang Tactics and Countermeasures

The GSF said gang members attempted to dig trenches and occupy high-rise buildings to hurl Molotov cocktails at advancing officers. Specialised units, however, neutralised those positions without loss of life.

The force — which recently rebranded from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) — credited the coordination between Kenyan troops and Haitian police for the successful outcome.

Past Fatalities Acknowledged

While refuting the latest claims, the GSF acknowledged earlier casualties involving peacekeepers and local forces.

On 31 August 2025, Corporal Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, a Kenyan officer, died in a road accident in Pétion-Ville during a recovery mission. He was pronounced dead at Lambert Santé Hospital after sustaining critical injuries.

A week before that, two elite Haitian SWAT officers were killed in an explosion caused by a “kamikaze drone” at a police base in Kenscoff.

In February 2025, another Kenyan officer died after being wounded during an operation in Ségur-Savien, in the Artibonite region.

Despite the setbacks, Kenyan authorities have reiterated their commitment to the peace mission, describing the deployment as a “duty to humanity.”

Kenya’s Continuing Mission

Kenya leads the multinational peacekeeping mission in Haiti under a United Nations-backed framework aimed at stabilising the country and dismantling heavily armed gangs.

The deployment — announced by President William Ruto in 2023 — has faced both praise and scrutiny, balancing the need for global solidarity with questions over security risks for Kenyan personnel.

As the GSF reaffirmed on Monday, morale remains high among the Kenyan contingent.

“Our mission continues,” the statement concluded. “We stand with the people of Haiti in their fight for peace and stability.”