A Kenyan police commander who served as Chief of Operations during the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti has come out to reveal why Haitian civilians blocked roads and attempted to prevent Kenyan officers from leaving parts of the country after the completion of their mission.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Stephen Kipruto Chebet, who is now the Eastern Regional Police Commander, said the unusual scenes reflected the strong relationship Kenyan officers had built with local communities during their deployment.

The incident occurred in April 2026 as the final Kenyan contingents prepared to leave Haiti after serving under the Kenya-led MSS Mission, which was deployed to support efforts to tackle escalating gang violence.

Chebet said Kenyan officers had built trust with local communities through joint patrols, combined operations and sustained community engagement, while also supporting efforts to restore security and public services.

📌 What You Need to Know

The situation became so difficult that Kenyan officers were reportedly moved out of some areas by helicopter rather than using blocked ground routes

The reaction reflected the difficult security environment in Haiti, where armed gangs had taken control of communities and disrupted access to roads, public services and critical infrastructure. Among the groups responsible for violence in the Artibonite region is the Gran Grif gang.

Kenya became involved in Haiti after the international community established the MSS Mission to support the Haitian National Police in responding to the gang crisis. Kenya took the lead in the multinational operation, deploying police officers to help restore security and support local authorities.

Before deploying to Haiti, Kenyan officers underwent comprehensive assessments by the National Police Service, while structured operational counselling was also provided to strengthen their mental resilience, confidence and readiness for the demanding assignment.

Chebet said the MSS mission recorded several milestones during its deployment, including the recapture of the International Airport and the recovery of the Haitian Police Academy from gang control, allowing successive groups of recruits and officers to resume training.

The mission also secured the National Sea Port, National Hospital and Palace, while major supply routes linking Port-au-Prince to other parts of the country were reopened, according to the commander.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke