The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) has strongly refuted reports circulating on social media alleging that Kenyan police officers were killed during recent operations in Haiti, terming the claims as “false and misleading.”
In a detailed statement released on Monday, October 20, the GSF affirmed that no Kenyan officer has been harmed in the course of the ongoing multinational mission, dismissing viral posts suggesting otherwise.
“Contrary to some misleading reports circulating on social media, no Kenyan officer was killed during the operation,” the GSF clarified.
The elite unit revealed that over the past week, joint forces comprising the GSF, the Haitian National Police (PNH), and the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H) conducted a series of targeted operations across Haiti’s volatile Artibonite Department. Their mission focused on clearing the Petite-Rivière–Liancourt–Pont Sondé route—an area long controlled by heavily armed gangs.
According to the GSF, the coordinated effort successfully restored order along a crucial transport corridor, reopening a key economic and humanitarian lifeline.
“The team successfully removed multiple barricades along the main road. Toward the final stretch, gang members attempted to reinforce their defenses by digging trenches and launching Molotov cocktails from high-rise buildings,” the GSF reported.
“Their efforts were swiftly neutralized by joint GSF and PNH specialized units, including BIM and UTAG.”
The statement also detailed how the GSF facilitated the movement of Haitian police personnel and supplies to St. Marc to bolster security in newly reclaimed zones.
This latest update comes amid heightened scrutiny of Kenya’s involvement in the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti, following earlier reports of casualties and concerns about the mission’s future.
President William Ruto, in a recent interview with France 24, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to seeing the stabilization mission through, emphasizing that Nairobi will not withdraw its officers prematurely.
“Our best position is that we have completed our mission; we were asked to step in, but one thing Kenya will not do is walk away from Haiti without clarity on a transition,” President Ruto said.
“We will be there to make sure that the next mission is properly formed… there are still many issues to be resolved.”
Since their deployment in mid-2024, the Kenya-led MSSM has played a pivotal role in reclaiming vital installations in Port-au-Prince and other regions once held by gangs.
“When we went to Haiti, both the air and sea ports had been overrun by gangs. Today, they are operational. Schools and hospitals are running again. The Presidential Palace, once under siege, now houses the Presidential Council and Prime Minister,” Ruto said.
As disinformation swirls online, the GSF’s latest statement aims to reassure the public and reaffirm Kenya’s resilience in one of the world’s most dangerous peacekeeping theatres.
Bottom line: Despite the heat of battle and waves of speculation, Kenya’s officers in Haiti remain alive, active, and advancing their mission to restore order in the Caribbean nation.
