Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has formally protested to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, accusing a recent UN report of misrepresenting findings on sexual abuse allegations involving Kenyan troops in Haiti.
In a letter dated April 7, Mr Mudavadi said the Secretary-General’s report (A/80/644) failed to accurately reflect the outcome of Kenyan investigations into claims of sexual exploitation and abuse linked to the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
He said allegations reported in August 2025 were “promptly investigated” through a Board of Inquiry and found to be unsubstantiated.
“No formal complaints were filed with any authority,” he wrote, adding that the findings were shared with both Haitian authorities and UN bodies.
He further stated that the investigations were “impartial” and transparent, involving relevant stakeholders, including UN human rights offices.
“These actions reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to accountability and due process.”
Mr Mudavadi said it was “concerning” that the UN report did not accurately capture these conclusions.
Nairobi has since instructed its missions in Geneva and New York to engage UN offices to “correct these inaccuracies and protect the integrity and sacrifices” of its personnel.
The Kenyan government also pushed back against what it described as “media-driven sensationalism” surrounding the allegations.
Mr Mudavadi stressed that Kenya’s leadership of the Haiti mission was undertaken despite domestic opposition, as part of its commitment to the rules-based international order and support for a country facing prolonged instability.
He noted that the mission operates under United Nations Security Council resolutions 2699 (2023) and 2793 (2025), with a strong emphasis on civilian protection, prevention of sexual violence and adherence to human-rights standards.
Kenyan personnel, he said, have received continuous training in these areas in collaboration with UN human rights officials.
“Throughout its deployment, the MSS strictly adhered to all operational frameworks… Notably, no reports have identified any misconduct,” Mr Mudavadi wrote, portraying the mission as disciplined and compliant with international norms.
He also pointed to operational sacrifices, noting that three Kenyan personnel have died and others have been injured during the mission.
Despite these setbacks, he said the contingent has upheld “the highest standards of transparency, professionalism and conduct.”
The protest comes amid conflicting narratives. Separate UN-linked investigations, including findings reported in February and attributed to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said four allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving the mission were substantiated, with cases referred for further action.
Mr Mudavadi did not directly address those findings in detail but reiterated that Kenya remains committed to accountability and to supporting Haiti’s long-term stability.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google