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Kenya lodges formal protest over UN abuse allegations
Kenya has formally rejected a United Nations report that accused its personnel deployed in Haiti of sexual abuse, calling the claims unsubstantiated after an internal inquiry.
UN report details allegations
A UN secretary-general's report released last week implicated Kenyan officers serving in the Security Council-authorized Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in four cases of rape and sexual violence. Three of the alleged victims are minors-a 12-year-old and two 16-year-olds.
The report stated that the allegations were substantiated by investigations conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It noted that all four cases were communicated to the MSS force commander.
Kenya denies wrongdoing, cites lack of formal complaints
In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi dismissed the allegations as unfounded. He stated that an internal inquiry found no evidence to support the claims and that no formal complaints were filed with any authority.
"The findings were shared transparently with both Haitian and UN bodies," Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi emphasized that Kenyan personnel adhered strictly to mission rules and that no reports of misconduct had been identified.
UN condemns sexual exploitation
The UN report described sexual exploitation and abuse as a "fundamental betrayal of the trust placed in the United Nations and its partners by the communities it serves." The allegations remain under review.
Mission background and challenges
Kenya led the MSS mission in Haiti, deployed in 2024 to combat gang violence under UN Security Council authorization. The force, intended to include up to 2,500 members, fell short of its target due to operational and funding difficulties. Despite these challenges, Mudavadi highlighted Kenya's commitment to the mission, even amid domestic opposition.
The MSS has since been replaced by a larger international force, the Gang Suppression Force, with the Kenyan-led mission being phased out.
