Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has confirmed the disappearance of a Kenyan police officer in Haiti seven days after he first went missing.
While speaking to the press on Wednesday, Kanja revealed that search efforts are still ongoing to find the officer, who, despite going missing, is rumoured to have passed away.
“That officer is still missing, and all efforts are in place to ensure that we get him. We want to promise the family that we are doing everything possible to get him back,” Kanja asserted.
The officer reportedly went missing on Tuesday, March 25, during a raid by Haitian gangs on Kenyan police officers. Reports revealed that he went missing during an operation in the Lower Artibonite region, which is located 92 kilometres north of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince.
While confirming the reports, Kenyan Police Spokesperson in Haiti, Jack Ombaka, revealed that the incident occurred after vehicles got stuck in a ditch, suspected to have been deliberately dug by the gangs.
In response, two MSS Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from Pont-Sonde, which is located in central Haiti, were dispatched to assist in the recovery.
It was during an attempt to repair the armoured vehicles that the gang members launched an attack on the Kenyan police officers.
The attack led to the officer’s disappearance, with speculation rife that he might be in the hands of the dangerous gangs.
As per the National Police Service (NPS), specialised teams were consequently deployed to search and find the police officer who was still believed to be in the custody of the gangs.
However, Kanja’s statement appears contradictory, with reports coming out of Haiti seemingly confirming that the officer is dead.
In a statement released on Wednesday, March 26, the Presidential Transitional Council (PTC) of Haiti disclosed that the officer was shot dead during the operation.
While identifying him as Benedict Kabiru, the Haitian government divulged that the officer, who was part of the Multinational Security Support mission, was killed in the field of battle, hailing him as a valiant officer.
“The Presidential Transitional Council (PTC) extends its deepest condolences to the government and people of Kenya, as well as to the family of Bénédict Kabiru, who fell on Monday, 24 March 2025, in Savien while carrying out his mission,” read part of the statement by the PTC.
“This valiant police officer, engaged alongside Haitian forces in the fight against insecurity, made the ultimate sacrifice for a better future for our country. His bravery and commitment will never be forgotten,” the statement added.
The discourse surrounding the officer has roped in his family, who have demanded clarity from the government over the whereabouts of their kin.
