Kenyan Police Officer Killed in Haiti Accident Identified

A Kenyan police officer serving in Haiti under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission was killed on 31 August in a road traffic accident in Port-au-Prince that also left eight others injured, three critically.

Corporal Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, part of Kenya’s third MSS deployment, died during a vehicle recovery operation involving two armoured MaxxPro vehicles on the Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road in the Pèlerin 9 area. One vehicle, which had broken down, was being towed when it struck a wall, causing the other to overturn. A civilian also died in the incident.

Nzuve was taken to Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville, where he was pronounced dead. The crash brought traffic to a halt in the area, prompting residents to assist in rescue efforts. Born in 1984 in Machakos County, Nzuve joined the National Police Service in 2005.

He served in several regions, including Narok and Baringo, before joining the Rapid Deployment Unit. He was recognised for his professionalism and had recently been deployed to Haiti as part of Kenya’s contribution to the MSS mission. On 1 September, officers from Kenya, the Bahamas, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and affiliated contractors held a memorial service at the MSS base in Port-au-Prince. His remains were later transported to the Dominican Republic ahead of repatriation to Kenya. The National Police Service confirmed that arrangements are in place for the return of his body and for ongoing medical treatment of the injured.

“The next of kin have been notified,” said NPS spokesman Muchiri Nyaga. “The service remains committed to supporting the affected families during this period.”

Corporal Nzuve’s death follows a series of recent incidents involving MSS personnel. Two Haitian SWAT officers were killed by an explosive drone in late August, and other MSS members have been injured or killed in gang-related ambushes. One officer is still missing.

The MSS mission, led by Kenya since June 2024, was established to support the Haitian National Police in efforts to counter widespread gang violence in the capital. The mission has faced significant logistical and operational challenges. Of the planned 2,500 international personnel, only around 1,000 have been deployed so far, with Kenya providing over 700.

A letter submitted to the United Nations Security Council by seven countries, including Kenya, the United States, and Canada, has called for urgent reinforcement of the mission. The letter says that the current force lacks the capacity to effectively respond to the worsening security situation, with large parts of Port-au-Prince under gang control.

During a recent UN Security Council session, acting US envoy Dorothy Shea announced a draft resolution to establish a dedicated Gang Suppression Force and a UN Support Office. She said the proposed measures would help secure key areas and disrupt gang financing and arms trafficking.

Haiti’s security crisis has worsened since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. A transitional presidential council, formed in 2024 following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, has pledged to hold elections by February 2026. The United Nations reports that more than 3,100 people were killed in the first half of 2025. Corporal Nzuve is the third Kenyan officer to die since the MSS mission began.