A Kenyan police officer deployed in Haiti is recovering from a serious head injury after being shot during violent clashes with gangs. His colleague also suffered an injury to the ear when a bullet penetrated the walls of an armored vehicle.
Three officers, speaking anonymously, revealed that the injured officer was shot in the head when a bullet pierced his helmet. Both officers were wounded while on patrol in Port-au-Prince. Their injuries were confirmed by Jack Ombaka, spokesperson for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, who stated that the two had been airlifted to the Dominican Republic for specialized treatment.
“As in any mission, casualties are sometimes unavoidable,” Ombaka told Reuters.
The incident adds to the growing list of casualties as gang violence escalates in Haiti. In February, the mission suffered its first fatality when a Kenyan officer was shot in the head. More recently, on March 24, another Kenyan officer was reported dead, though conflicting reports from Kenyan and Haitian officials have created uncertainty about whether he is dead or missing. Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, said on March 30 that efforts were ongoing to locate the missing officer.
Meanwhile, officers on the ground have raised concerns about the quality of their equipment. They claim 20 armored vehicles have been grounded since last weekend, with officers refusing to use them after a second instance of a bullet penetrating the armor.
Responding to concerns about faulty equipment, Ombaka maintained that MSS continues to receive logistical support from partners and assured that all equipment meets international standards. However, senior MSS officials disclosed that a delegation plans to visit Washington this week to discuss concerns about protective gear with U.S. officials.
The United States has been the primary provider of funding and equipment for the mission, which has struggled to secure significant contributions from other nations. Addressing rumors of a U.S. funding cut, Kanja reassured that financial support from Washington remains intact.