Kenyan police complete 22-month Haiti peace mission under UN-backed MSS deployment

The final group of 150 officers from the National Police Service (NPS), who were deployed to Haiti under the UN-supported, Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, arrived back on April 28, 2026, concluding the historic 22-month and 7-day deployment. The contingent was headed by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, along with the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja; the National Security Advisor, Joseph Boinett; Kenya’s Consul General to Haiti, Noor Gabow; and the Director of Security Operations for the Administration Police Service (APS), Jackson Kangani, SAIG. Earlier, the leaders had traveled to Haiti for high-level discussions with Haitian authorities. Upon their return, the officers, led by MSSM Force Commander Godfrey Otunge, SAIG, were greeted at the airport by the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Ambassador Monica Juma; the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abraham Sing’Oei; the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Susan Burns; the High Commissioner of Barbados to Kenya, William MacDonald; and the High Commissioner of Uganda to Kenya, Eunice Kigenyi. In his speech, CS Murkomen praised the officers for their sacrifice, professionalism, discipline, and dedication in the face of Haiti’s challenging security situation. He mentioned that a total of 730 officers participated in the mission, collaborating with the Haitian National Police and other MSS personnel to protect essential infrastructure such as airports and seaports, and to help reopen schools and hospitals, as well as resume police training. The CS also observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the three brave officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Inspector General Kanja, in his comments, officially welcomed the officers back to Kenya, stating they had achieved what many considered an impossible task. He thanked His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, for his consistent support and strategic guidance. IG Kanja also expressed thanks to the officers’ families for their steadfast support and acknowledged Kenya Airways (KQ) for its assistance in transporting officers to and from Haiti. Also attending the homecoming event were the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Eliud Lagat; the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service (APS), Gilbert Masengeli; the Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), John Onyango, SAIG; the Principal Deputy to DIG-APS, Masoud Mwinyi, SAIG; the Commandant of GSU, Ranson Lolmodooni, SAIG; the Commandant of the Border Patrol Unit, Davis Lomwatu, SAIG; the Commandant of Embakasi ‘A’ Campus, Isaac Alimaa, SAIG; the Director of Logistics for KPS, Peter Ndung’u, SAIG; and the Director of Community Policing and Child Protection, Judy Lamet, SAIG, along with other senior officers.