Lessons from Kenya’s Failed Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti

About the Event

In October 2022, Haiti’s government requested an international armed force to help it deal with armed gangs who had taken control of most of the country. In July 2023, Kenya volunteered to lead a police response. The United States and Ecuador sponsored a UN Security Council resolution in October 2023, and Kenya and Haiti signed a mutual security agreement in March 2024. 

The planned strength of the Kenyan police force was 2,500, but at its peak the contingent numbered only 1,000, with 700 Kenyans, to deal with over 150 armed gangs that expanded their control over the capital.  On September 30, 2025, the Security Council adopted a new resolution replacing the Kenyan-led force with a larger Gang Suppression Force of up to 5,500 personnel, including Chadian police and military.

Kenya began a phased withdrawal in March 2026. Several failures in the Kenyan mission were not solely the fault of Kenyan officers. The mission depended on voluntary funding and equipment, which was deployed slowly, at half its intended size and lacked transport, intelligence, logistics, language, and appropriate weapons or force structure to deal with heavily armed gangs.

Join FPRI trustee and Africa Initiative chair Ambassador Charles Ray for a discussion with The Honorable Herve Denis, Johanna Leblanc, and Michael Walsh focusing on the lessons that senior decision-makers should take from the ill-fated Kenyan deployment and what the future might hold for Haiti’s security situation.

Speakers