Gangs Ambush Peace Patrol in Haiti, Kill 3 Soldiers, Injure Several as Kenyan Police Intensify Manhunt

EoK Reports | News Desk

Kenyan Police Contingent while arriving in Haiti 

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – A joint security patrol involving Haitian and Kenyan officers under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) was ambushed on Sunday in Kenscoff, a hilly suburb southeast of Haiti’s capital, killing three Haitian soldiers and injuring at least four others in a violent escalation of gang warfare.

The fatal attack occurred as the patrol team navigated a known volatile zone heavily infiltrated by the notorious gang coalition Viv Ansanm, which has defied state authority and escalated its armed resistance in recent weeks.

In a public statement, the Haitian Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the deaths of the three soldiers, describing them as “valiant heroes who stood on the front lines with courage and honour.” The injured were rushed to a secure facility; their condition remains undisclosed.

"These soldiers are not just members of our forces. They are worthy sons of the nation, defenders of our sovereignty... their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten," read the government communiqué.

Kenyan Reinforcements Respond Swiftly

Following the attack, Kenyan officers together with the Haitian National Police (PNH) launched an aggressive counter-operation. Videos circulated online showed soldiers in camouflage retrieving the fallen while drone surveillance and advanced tactical gear were deployed in the densely vegetated highlands.

The joint force’s presence in Haiti, part of a UN-sanctioned multinational mission led by Kenya, has been met with both hope and hostility. In March, Kenyan officer Benedict Kabiru was reportedly killed during a separate operation in the Lower Artibonite region—an area also grappling with deeply entrenched gang rule. That incident saw three armoured vehicles torched, triggering panic and criticism over force preparedness.

Fear and Firepower in Kenscoff

Kenscoff, once a quiet agricultural region, has become a hotbed of gun battles as security forces confront gang elements embedded in the community. Residents have fled in droves, seeking refuge from the nightly sound of gunfire and grenade blasts. Aid agencies report growing humanitarian needs, especially in areas where roads have been cut off by criminal groups.

Sunday’s attack adds to the rising death toll among security personnel deployed to restore peace in Haiti, raising global concern about the sustainability and safety of the multinational force—particularly Kenya’s frontline role in a faraway crisis.

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