Haiti mission: Family of slain officer notified – NPS

The family of the police officer killed during a battle with the criminal gangs in Haiti has been notified, the National Police Service (NPS) has said.

While conveying its sympathies to the family and friends of the fallen officer, police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga regretted the incident while assuring them of full support.

The officer whose name is yet to be revealed is said to have succumbed to gunshot wounds at Aspen Level 2 Hospital in the Caribbean country where he had been airlifted to.

He was part of a team that was on patrol at Seguin in Pont-Sonde in Port-au-Prince.

“The Service conveys its deepest sympathies to family and friends of the fallen Police Officer, and assures them of our unwavering support during this trying period,” it reads.

Muchiri at the same time commended the officers in the country for their commitment to the restoration of peace in the country.

“We commend the National Police Officers in Haiti who remain committed to achieving the mandate of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS),” he said.

Force commander Godfrey Otunge confirmed the passing on of the officer.

This marks the first casualty on the Kenyan team since they arrived there on June 25, 2024, to help the Caribbean nation contain criminal gangs.

Kenya has about 800 officers of the 1,000 needed.

Otunge said over the past week, Kenyan police officers have been conducting continuous security operations in Artibonite, successfully neutralizing several gangs.

In response, the residents of Seguin in Pont-Sonde began calling for similar action in their area.

“Hearing their pleas, the brave Kenyan police officers answered the call. This is the price our courageous officer paid—he was killed while fighting for the people of Haiti. His fellow officers, unwilling to accept the loss, pursued the gang member responsible and immediately neutralized him.”

He thanked the El Salvador Causality Evacuation (CASEVAC) team who responded in a record time and the doctors at the hospital who did all they could do to save the officer’s life in vain.

The Kenyan team is part of a UN-approved international force that will be made up of 2,500 officers from various countries.

There are concerns that even if the team manages to dislodge the gangs from this stronghold, the absence of an immediate and lasting occupation by the police or the army will allow them to return quickly.

By Star