Haiti Mission in Crisis as Rift Rumors Threaten Kenya-Led Peacekeeping Effort

Haiti Mission Unity Questioned After Kenyan Officer’s Death

The trouble began after Benedict Kabiru, a Kenyan officer attached to the MSS, was shot dead during a gang raid in Haiti’s volatile Savien State on March 24, 2025. His death sparked reports of discontent within the Kenya-led MSS force. Rumors quickly followed — alleging Kenyan peacekeepers had pulled back from joint operations, leaving Haitian forces exposed.

These claims reached a fever pitch when reports surfaced suggesting that entire Haitian towns like Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau had fallen to gang control — with no Kenyan troops in sight.

The implication? A fractured force. A Haiti Mission losing grip on its mandate. But on April 21, top police bosses from both nations — Michel Jeune for the HNP and Jack Ombaka for the MSS — broke their silence.

In a strongly worded press statement, they dismissed the fallout claims, calling them false, harmful, and divisive. They directly accused foreign media of twisting facts to fuel unnecessary panic and undermine the mission’s efforts.

“Contrary to the information published… the MSS is heavily involved on the ground alongside Haitian police,” their joint statement read.

The two emphasized recent successful operations in the commune of Kenscoff, just 11 kilometers from Port-au-Prince, where both forces worked side-by-side to dismantle armed gangs.

They painted a picture of unity, strategy sessions, and continued joint planning between HNP boss Rameau Normil and MSS Commander Godfrey Otunge.

Reality Check: Is the Haiti Mission Still on Track?

Despite the denial of a rift, challenges persist. The Haiti Mission, comprising troops from Kenya, El Salvador, Belize, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Guatemala, is facing a rapidly worsening security crisis.

Armed gangs now control large swaths of the country. The situation has become so dire that residents live in fear, humanitarian aid is blocked, and thousands have been displaced.

In this climate, even minor misunderstandings or tactical missteps between forces can escalate into serious problems — or media scandals.

The death of Officer Kabiru was not only a tragic loss but a moment that tested the resolve and structure of the MSS. Some insiders say tensions did spike in the aftermath — not from rivalry but from shock, grief, and the need to recalibrate the mission’s approach.

In an interview with Le Nouvelliste, Haiti’s leading newspaper, Ombaka revealed that a new operational strategy was underway. It involves ambushes and targeted missions aimed directly at gang leadership.

“We talk less and act more. That is why you no longer see gang leaders coming out openly,” he said.

His words seem to confirm that the mission is far from paralyzed. Instead, it is evolving — moving from broad raids to stealthy, strategic strikes. Ombaka was clear: the goal is to capture or eliminate key gang leaders to dismantle their networks from the top.

Still, critics argue that transparency is lacking. The mission’s silence between March 24 and April 21 created a vacuum that misinformation filled. Now, both the MSS and HNP will have to do more than just deny rumors —they’ll have to show consistent, visible cooperation in the face of skepticism.

As the Haiti Mission pushes forward, one thing is clear — both Kenya and Haiti are under intense pressure to deliver security results in one of the world’s most fragile states.

Any hint of disagreement or withdrawal — whether true or false — risks undermining not just morale but international trust in the mission itself.

For now, the Kenyan and Haitian police bosses have shown a united front. But with the battle against gangs far from over, the real test of unity lies not in press statements but in the field.