Port-au-Prince: A Kenyan police officer sent to Haiti to combat gang violence was killed on Sunday during an anti-gang operation north of the Caribbean nation's capital, an official has confirmed. The officer was involved in an operation in Segur-Savien in the Artibonite department when the incident occurred.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Godfrey Otunge, the force commander of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, stated that the officer was shot during the operation. Despite being immediately airlifted to Aspen Level Two Hospital, the officer succumbed to the injuries sustained.

The unfortunate incident took place in the town of Pont Sonde and marks the first casualty for the Kenyan team since their arrival in Haiti in June 2024. They were deployed to assist in containing the criminal gangs that have long troubled the nation.

Recent operations in the Artibonite region had been successful, neutralizing several gangs, which led residents of Seguin in Pont-Sonde to call for similar measures in their area. Haiti has been struggling with gang violence and political instability for several years, highlighting the challenges faced by the Kenyan team and international efforts to restore peace.