Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) Spokesperson Jack Mbaka has revealed that some Kenyan troops will remain in the United Nations (UN)-led mission in Haiti, while remaining tight-lipped on the timeline for their return.
Speaking to journalists on March 19 in Haiti, Mbaka stated that Kenya is actively reducing troop levels in preparation for the arrival of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the military unit set to take over security operations.
He further confirmed that the mission has officially entered a transition and drawdown phase, with officers returning home in gradual batches. “The mission has now entered a transition and drawdown phase that will see more officers gradually return home from their tour of duty,” stated Mbaka.
The GSF is a United Nations-authorised intervention backed heavily by United States funding. It is expected to begin deployment of replacement forces as of April, starting with a small contingent from Chad before expanding to a broader multinational force.
Senior police officers and government officials, led by IG Douglas Kanja receive Kenyan police officers from Haiti at the JKIA on March 17, 2026.
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MINA
According to Mbaka, a number of Kenyan police officers will remain in Haiti to serve as a bridge during the transition. It is unclear the actual number of police officers who will remain in Haiti, with Mbaka keeping the totals under wraps for now.
When asked when Kenya expects to fully withdraw from the mission that has claimed at least two officers, Mbaka declined to give a timetable for the full departure. The ongoing process, he said, “aims to ensure a smooth transition” to the new force’s expected 5,500 troops.
On March 17, scenes of celebration were witnessed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as another batch of 215 Kenyan police officers from the Haiti mission returned to the country. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja was present at the airport alongside the 215 officers forming part of the returning contingent.
Kenyan police troops are expected to fully leave Haiti by around October 2026 as per the stipulated UN and U.S. timelines; however, this withdrawal is gradual, not a single departure date.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last month that personnel commitments for the Gang Suppression Force are strong but acknowledged that donor funding remains a work in progress, with Washington still seeking contributions to close existing financial gaps. “We’re very happy with the commitments we’ve got in terms of personnel,” highlighted Secretary Rubio.
Kenya’s involvement in Haiti stretches back to 2023, when it became the only country willing to lead the mission after Canada declined and Caribbean governments insisted Haiti’s own police force should handle the crisis without external military intervention, a task that appeared to be a toll order on their part.
The mission was designed to field around 2,500 personnel. At its peak, only about 1,100 officers were ever deployed, falling well short of what security analysts said was necessary to meaningfully disrupt gang operations across the country.
Three Kenyan police officers lost their lives during anti-gang operations, a painful reminder of the real human cost behind a mission that unfolded thousands of kilometres from home under extraordinarily dangerous conditions.
A contingent of Kenyan police officers arrives at JKIA on December 9, 2025, following their successful 18-month peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
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NPS
