A Kenyan police officer deployed to Haiti was fatally shot during an operation against gangs in the Artibonite region. This marks the first casualty since the Kenyan-led mission arrived in June 2024. The officer was airlifted but later succumbed to his injuries. Officials vowed to continue the fight against gangs, with support from Haiti’s National Police and multinational forces.

A Kenyan police officer deployed to Haiti to combat violent gangs was fatally shot during an operation, Kenyan authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The incident took place in the western Artibonite region, where Kenyan police had been carrying out missions to neutralize Haitian gangs. This marks the first casualty since the Kenyan-led security mission arrived in Haiti in June 2024.

"We salute our fallen hero," said Jack Ombaka, the mission's spokesperson, in a statement. "We will pursue these gangs to the last man standing. We will not let you down."

The Kenyan mission explained that officers had responded to a call for help from residents in an area known as Pont-Sonde. The officer, who was wounded in the attack, was airlifted from the scene but later succumbed to his injuries, according to Godfrey Otunge, the commander of the Kenyan forces in Haiti.

Following the shooting, officers pursued the gang members. Mission official Ombaka expressed gratitude to hospital staff and Salvadoran forces, who also provided assistance in the aftermath of the attack.

“This is the price our courageous officer paid—he was killed while fighting for the people of Haiti,” Ombaka said. “We salute our fallen hero.”

The Gran Grif gang is known to control the region where the officer was killed. His death represents a significant setback in efforts to curb Haiti’s escalating gang violence, which has intensified since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Kenya has deployed hundreds of officers to assist Haiti’s struggling law enforcement. In February, 200 additional officers from Kenya joined more than 600 of their compatriots already operating alongside Haiti’s National Police. They form part of a multinational force that includes security personnel from Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador.