UN Report Links Kenyan Police in Haiti Over Sexual Abuse Allegations

A new report by the United Nations has revealed serious allegations of sexual abuse involving Kenyan police officers who were part of a security mission in Haiti.

The officers were deployed under the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which was sent to help control gang violence in the troubled Caribbean country.

According to the UN, four separate cases of rape involving mission personnel were reported and later confirmed after investigations. The victims were all young females aged 12, 16, 16, and 18.

The investigations were carried out by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The findings have raised major concerns about discipline and accountability within the international force.

The report, which focuses on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, classified all four cases as confirmed violations. However, it did not clearly state what action has been taken against those involved, with most cases still marked as ongoing.

In one of the cases involving a 12-year-old girl, the investigation was reportedly handled internally by the mission, but more details were not provided.

The Kenya-led mission started sending police officers to Haiti in June 2024 after approval by the UN Security Council. Its main goal was to reduce gang violence and restore order in the country.

Despite this objective, the UN has continued to record cases of misconduct linked to some officers in the mission.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organisation will continue to follow up on these cases. He stressed the importance of putting strong systems in place to prevent abuse, investigate complaints, and ensure transparency.

He noted that proper accountability is key to maintaining trust and the success of the mission.

At the same time, a new group of officers from Chad has arrived in Haiti and is expected to strengthen measures to prevent similar incidents.

This development comes shortly after Kenya completed its two-year mission in Haiti, with the final group of police officers recently returning home.