Kenyan Officer Killed in Haiti Armoured Vehicle Crash as MSS Mission Faces Mounting Perils

A Kenyan peacekeeper serving in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti has died in a tragic road accident, underscoring the mounting risks faced by the international force deployed to stabilise the Caribbean nation.

The accident occurred on Sunday evening along the treacherous Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road at Perlerin 9, a notorious stretch outside Port-au-Prince associated with violent gang ambushes, deadly clashes, and a string of fatal crashes. According to MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka, the incident happened during a recovery operation involving two MaxxPro armoured vehicles. One vehicle, towing the other after a mechanical breakdown, lost control, resulting in a fatal crash.

Tragically, a Kenyan officer and a civilian lost their lives, while eight other MSS officers sustained injuries—three of them critically. The injured were rushed to Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville, where the fatalities were confirmed. The critically wounded have since been slated for evacuation to the Dominican Republic for specialised treatment, while the rest remain under care at the Aspen Level 2 Hospital.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, as well as with the injured, as they recover,” Ombaka said, extending condolences on behalf of the mission.

This latest tragedy comes as Haiti continues to grapple with escalating gang violence. Armed groups control large swathes of Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions, leaving both civilians and security forces in constant peril. Less than two weeks ago, two Haitian SWAT officers were killed by an explosive-laden drone during an operation, with two others injured. The MSS itself has already lost members to gang ambushes since its deployment, with one officer confirmed dead and another missing, presumed killed.

The United Nations human rights office estimates that between October 2024 and June 2025, over 1,000 people have been killed, 200 injured, and 620 kidnapped in Haiti’s gang-plagued regions.