UN confirms abuse claims against Kenya-led Haiti force
The United Nations (UN) investigations have substantiated four allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving personnel attached to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, where a majority of officers are drawn from Kenya.
According to a report dated February 16, 2026 by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), all four allegations were confirmed following internal probes.
The findings have since been forwarded to the mission’s leadership for further investigation and appropriate disciplinary or remedial action.
However, the report did not disclose the outcomes of the cases.
OHCHR spokesperson Marta Hurtado Gomez noted that responsibility for further action lies with the mission leadership and troop-contributing countries, emphasising that the force—now operating as the Gang Suppression Force (GSF)—is not a formal United Nations mission.
A spokesperson for the MSS declined to comment, while Haiti’s Prime Minister’s office and OHCHR had not issued additional responses by the time of publication.
The mission, initially spearheaded by Kenya, began deployment in June 2024 with about 1,000 personnel, most of them Kenyan police officers.
The deployment was controversial from the outset, facing strong opposition domestically and legal challenges, including court rulings that initially blocked the plan over constitutional and oversight concerns.
Despite this, the government proceeded with the deployment after securing agreements and legal adjustments. The force was later restructured in September 2024 to enhance operational capacity amid escalating gang violence in Haiti.
The latest revelations come amid operational hurdles following a drawdown and reduced support from the United States Government, a key backer.
On March 24, 2026, the National Police Service (NPS) received its third contingent of officers returning from deployment in Haiti.
The officers arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where they were received by the immediate former National Security Adviser, Ambassador Monicah Juma and the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
Juma has since been appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).
At their arrival at JKIA, the Haiti Kenyan contingent was accompanied by the Deputy National Security Adviser, Joseph Boinnet, Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service (KPS) Eliud Lagat, the Chief of Staff for APS James Kamau and the Director of Corporate Communication and NPS Spokesperson, Muchiri Nyaga.
The 208 officers who returned formed part of a larger contingent deployed to Haiti under the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, tasked with supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP) in combating gang violence, restoring public safety, and securing critical infrastructure.
