Kenyan police death toll rises as gangs torch three armored vehicles in Artibonite ambush

PORT-AU-PRINCE — A rescue operation by the Kenya-led multinational force (MSS) and the Haitian National Police (PNH) turned deadly when gangs ambushed officers in Savien, near Pont-Sondé, in Haiti’s lower Artibonite department on Tuesday, March 25. 

A Kenyan police officer was killed, bringing the total number of Kenyan fatalities in Haiti to two since the force arrived in June 2024. Three armored vehicles were also set on fire during the attack, adding to mounting losses for the multinational mission.

The officer’s death comes just days after another Kenyan police officer was wounded during an operation in Kenscoff. Gangs have become increasingly emboldened, using sophisticated ambush tactics and celebrating their attacks by posting graphic footage online.

The latest death adds to a growing toll of law enforcement casualties in Haiti this year. At least nine officers from the PNH and multinational force have been killed since February.

The incident unfolded when two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from the MSS were deployed to assist a PNH armored vehicle that had become stuck in a ditch—believed to have been intentionally dug by gangs along the Carrefour-Paye-Savien road.

As the rescue operation commenced, one MRAP also became immobilized, while the other suffered a mechanical failure, making the officers vulnerable to attack. Gangs opened fire, forcing police into a defensive position.

“Following this incident, an officer from the Kenyan contingent remains missing. Specialized teams have been deployed to locate him,” the multinational force stated. Shortly afterward, a video surfaced online showing the body of the officer, whom gang members boasted about killing.

The officer’s identity has not yet been publicly disclosed, and his body remains in gang control.

Timeline of recent law enforcement deaths in Haiti:

• Feb. 12: Officer Emmanuel Fils Thomas killed in a gang ambush in Montrouis.
• Feb. 16: A Haitian Armed Forces (FADH)  soldier and two Protected Areas Security Brigade (BSAP) agents killed; two FADH soldiers wounded.
• Feb. 17: A police officer from the Anti-Gang Tactical Unit (UTAG) killed in a gunfight; gangs set fire to an armored police vehicle.
• Feb. 23: The first Kenyan officer, Samuel Tompei Kaetuai, was killed in Savien, Artibonite.
• Feb. 25: Two FADH soldiers and at least 12 residents killed in Delmas 30 attack.
• March 25: A second Kenyan police officer was killed in an ambush in Savien, Artibonite.

Haitian police warn of evolving gang tactics

The Haitian National Police (PNH) is also struggling with inadequate resources and increasingly complex gang warfare strategies.

PNH spokesperson Michel-Ange Louis Jeune highlighted new gang tactics, stating:

“We have seen criminals adopt new strategies every day. These are situations that were not part of our daily reality before. The police need to take new measures to counter these threats.”

One growing concern is gangs using elevated positions to attack police officers, particularly in areas like Kenscoff, where rugged terrain limits police mobility.

“If we had combat helicopters, the situation would be different,” Louis Jeune added.

The spokesperson also refuted reports that PNH had received explosive drones, clarifying that such equipment remains under government control rather than police use.

Multinational force struggles amid funding and equipment shortages

The Kenya-led multinational force, initially promised 1,000 officers, continues to face major operational challenges. Currently, only about 1,000 personnel are deployed out of the 2,500 expected, with Kenyan police officers being the only ones engaged in direct field operations alongside the PNH.

The mission also faces a severe equipment shortage, despite pledges of support from international allies. Combat helicopters, which could be critical in countering gang strongholds, have only been used for medical evacuations. Maritime security equipment remains undelivered, and the force still lacks Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) for expansion.

A multinational mission source told The Haitian Times:
“The base is at full capacity. We cannot add more personnel until new FOBs are built.”

The force’s financial struggles worsened after the U.S. withdrew its funding commitment to the UN-managed mission. Without adequate resources, law enforcement remains at a disadvantage against well-armed gangs.

A worsening security crisis

Haiti’s deteriorating security situation has left critical infrastructure paralyzed, with no clear resolution in sight.

• Toussaint Louverture International Airport remains closed to commercial flights.
• The prisons in Port-au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets remain abandoned after gang raids.
• Several police stations destroyed by gangs have yet to be restored.
• Gangs maintain control over key roads and transport routes.

Meanwhile, gangs are expanding their reach into previously unaffected areas, including parts of Kenscoff, Delmas 19, and Christ-Roi.

On March 24, gangs attacked public transport vehicles in Delmas 29 and 31, killing at least three people and injuring around 20 passengers, according to local reports.

With the MSS mission underfunded, outgunned, and short-staffed, Haiti’s security forces remain at a breaking point—while gangs grow bolder by the day.

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