150 More Kenyan Officers Depart Haiti; MSS Drawdown Enters Final Phase With 803 Officers Withdrawn

Kenya's Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti entered its final phase on April 21, 2026, as 150 more Kenyan National Police Service officers departed the country — bringing the total number of Kenyan officers withdrawn to approximately 803. Kenya Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli traveled to Haiti to oversee the drawdown. The phased withdrawal follows the formal end of the MSS mandate in late March 2026 and the transition to the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) operating under Security Council Resolution 2793. Kenya was the lead nation in the MSS since deployment began in mid-2024, contributing the core of the force, though the MSS never exceeded approximately 40% of its authorized 2,500-person target. Despite persistent resource constraints, the MSS secured Haiti's main international airport, recaptured the Varreux fuel terminal, and prevented a complete security vacuum during the 2024 political transition that established the Transitional Presidential Council. The remaining Kenyan personnel will withdraw in subsequent tranches as the GSF's advance force — now including Salvadoran (~70), Guatemalan (~75), and Chadian (~400) troops — scales up operations across Port-au-Prince.