UNITED NATIONS (CMC)–Kenya has formally denied allegations contained in a United Nations (UN) report that some of its personnel serving in a UN Security Council-authorised mission in Haiti had been involved in sexual abuse.

“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,” the report noted.

But Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, in a letter to UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has expressed concern over the allegations that were first reported last August.

The Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) was deployed to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country in 2024 to help combat gang violence, following the assassination of president Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

“No formal complaints were filed with any authority, and findings were shared transparently with both Haitian and UN bodies,” Mudavadi said, adding that the claims were promptly investigated through an inquiry and found to be unsubstantiated.

Mudavadi said Kenya’s deployment through the MSS showed the country’s commitment, despite operational challenges and domestic opposition.

But a report by Guterres made public last week implicates officers under the Kenyan-led mission in four cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence. Three of the alleged victims are children – a 12-year-old and two aged 16.

The report states the allegations were substantiated by investigations conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“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, with the UN indicating that the allegations are under review.

The UN report states that the cases were referred to the MSS and its successor organisation, the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which has also been authorised by the UN Security Council, for “appropriate investigation and remedial measures”.

El Salvador is the latest country to send members to boost the GSF following the arrival on April 1 of a pre-deployment team of approximately 50 military engineering specialists, who came to prepare the facilities and infrastructure necessary for the arrival of Chadian forces.

The GSF works in close cooperation with the Haitian Government, the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), and in consultation with BINUH, the UN Country Team, the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (BANUH) and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Between April and October this year, 5,500 uniformed personnel will be deployed to Haiti from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.