Kenyan-led forces in Haiti were involved in four rape cases- U.N report

A report by the United Nations has revealed that personnel under the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti were implicated in four cases of sexual exploitation and abuse, all of which were confirmed following investigations.

The report by the UN Secretary-General details a total of 568 victims of sexual exploitation and abuse across UN operations last year, including 158 children, underscoring what it describes as "a fundamental betrayal of the trust placed in the United Nations and its partners.”

According to the report, most cases are currently under review, with the United Nations working alongside Kenyan authorities under existing conduct and discipline frameworks to establish responsibility and pursue action where necessary.

“In 2025, the United Nations received four allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving personnel from the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti. All the allegations were found to be substantiated by investigations conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,” read the report.

“The cases were referred to the commander of the Gang Suppression Force and the Multinational Security Support Mission for appropriate investigation and remedial measures.”

The UN notes that troop-contributing countries, including Kenya, bear the primary responsibility for investigating allegations and prosecuting offenders, even as the global body continues to strengthen oversight mechanisms.

“Member States are responsible for holding their personnel accountable,” the report states, emphasising the need for timely investigations and transparency in handling such cases.

 “Sexual exploitation and abuse represent a fundamental betrayal of the trust placed in the United Nations and its partners by the communities it serves,” the report states, warning that such acts “inflict devastating and lifelong harm on victims.”

Details of the four cases remain limited, but external reporting, including by the Miami Herald, indicates that the victims were aged between 12 and 18 years, with all cases marked as corroborated.

“Under the reports’ findings, all of the cases said: 'Violation corroborated.' All but one lists “pending” under action taken. In the case of the 12-year-old, the report says that an internal investigation was conducted by the mission itself,” stated the Miami Herald.

“The Miami Herald has reached out for comment to the mission’s force commander, Godfrey Otunge, spokesman Jack Mbaka and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights but has received no response.”

The publication also notes that the four rape allegations were first reported by a Port-au-Prince-based online news service, AyiboPost.

The Kenya-led mission, largely composed of Kenyan police officers and was deployed to Haiti in 2024 to help combat gang violence, following authorisation by the UN Security Council. Although backed by the UN, the mission is classified as a non-United Nations force and has since completed the mission early this year.

Additionally, the UN says personnel attached to the mission underwent both predeployment and in-mission training aimed at addressing sexual exploitation and abuse, although it warns that missions evolving peace operations - especially non-UN forces - require stricter oversight.

“As peace operations evolve, including deployments of non-United Nations forces under Security Council mandates, ensuring consistent standards across configurations is essential to protecting populations, fostering trust and upholding the legitimacy of international efforts,” the report states.

The revelations add to longstanding concerns over misconduct by foreign security forces in Haiti, where previous UN peacekeeping missions were also plagued by allegations of sexual abuse.