Murkomen, Kanja visit Haiti as Kenyan troop drawdown concludes
By Cynthia Lodite, April 28, 2026The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has visited the remaining Kenyan officers serving under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti as the team draws down operations in the Caribbean Country.
In a statement by the National Police Service on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Service confirmed the arrival of the Security team to Haiti on Monday, April 27, 2026.
CS Murkomen and the entire Kenyan delegation were received by the MSS Contingent Commander, Godfrey Otunge, SAIG, and Kenya’s Consular General for Haiti, Noor Gabow, among other dignitaries.
“The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Douglas Kanja, yesterday, 27th April 2026, visited the remaining Kenyan officers serving under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti as the drawdown concludes,” NPS stated.
He was briefed on the activities and operations of the MSS, the successes achieved and the drawdown as the MSS transitions to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) following United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2793 (2025).
Among the achievements by the Kenyan soldiers was the pacification and stabilisation of Haiti.
At the same time, IG Kanja lauded the officers for conducting their duties with professionalism, discipline and commitment, while also underscoring the gainful support and collaboration of international partners and for standing firm with the MSS.
He further urged the returning officers to utilise the experience gained while on this mission for the good of the Service and the people of Kenya.
Speaking at the event, the National Security Advisor, Mr Joseph Boinett, also praised the officers for completing their deployment, highlighting their integrity, discipline, and sacrifice.
He further described the mission as historic, noting that the officers upheld Kenya’s reputation with honour and pride while contributing to peace and stability in a foreign nation.
“Later, 150 officers left Haiti for Nairobi, Kenya, marking the conclusion of the drawdown. Also present were the Director of Operations APS, Mr. Jackson Kangani, SAIG, and Personal Assistant to the IG, Mr. James Murithi, CP, among other senior officers,” NPS confirmed.
Chad troops to Haiti
Meanwhile, the first foreign troops from a new United Nations-backed force have arrived in Haiti in an effort to combat escalating levels of gang violence in the Caribbean country.
In a bid to restore peace in the Caribbean nation, the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, authorised the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti. Kenya was designated to lead the MSS, with support from Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Canada.
On September 30, 2024, the Security Council reviewed the resolution 2699 (2023), by prolonging the MSS mandate for one year and boosting personnel from 1000 to 2500.
Come October 2025, the UN security body upgraded the mission to a Gang Suppression Force (GSF), with a maximum of 5,500 uniformed personnel, including police officers and soldiers, serving for an initial 12-month period. This would bring an end to the MSS mission, where Kenya’s Godfrey Otunge served as the force commander.