Kenya has formally contested a United Nations report alleging sexual exploitation by members of a UN-backed security mission in Haiti, sparking renewed scrutiny of international peacekeeping operations. The UN Human Rights Office confirmed four cases of abuse linked to the multinational force, which has been led by Kenyan police officers since its deployment in June 2024 to combat gang violence in Port-au-Prince.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dated April 2026, Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi stated that a national inquiry found the allegations “unsubstantiated,” emphasizing transparency in sharing findings with UN offices. The dispute highlights tensions over accountability in global missions, particularly given the troubled history of the UN’s prior Haiti operation, MINUSTAH, which faced over 2,000 abuse claims between 2004 and 2017.
With Kenya contributing most of the 1,000-strong force, the controversy raises questions about oversight mechanisms for multinational deployments. The UN has yet to issue a public response to Kenya’s rebuttal.
