TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

The Haitian Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) has revealed the identity of a Kenyan police officer killed while on duty as part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in the Caribbean country.

The Kenyan officer, identified as Benedict Kabiru, was killed on Monday, March 24, in Savien.

In an official statement, the TPC honored Kabiru’s bravery and sacrifice in Haiti’s ongoing fight against insecurity.

"This valiant officer, working alongside Haitian forces to combat insecurity, made the ultimate sacrifice for a better future for our country. His bravery and commitment will never be forgotten," the statement read.

Kabiru was part of Kenya’s police contingent deployed to Haiti as part of an international security support mission aimed at stabilising the country, which has been grappling with escalating violence from armed gangs.

The TPC condemned the attack and reiterated its commitment to restoring order.

"We reaffirm our absolute determination to eradicate all forms of criminality that continue to sow chaos in the country. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes, whether armed criminals or their accomplices, will be held accountable before the courts. No impunity will be tolerated," the council declared.

Haiti has been struggling with widespread gang violence, which has worsened since the assassination of former president Jovenel Moïse in 2021. In response, Kenya agreed to lead a multinational force to assist Haiti’s security forces in restoring law and order.

The TPC assured its citizens and international partners that it remains dedicated to the mission of stabilising the nation.

"The Transitional Presidential Council remains firmly committed to working alongside its national and international partners to restore stability and build a Haiti where security and justice prevail," it stated.

The National Police Service (NPS) earlier acknowledged reports of the Kenyan officer going missing in Haiti but declined to comment on whether he was alive.

According to the NPS, Constable Kabiru was reported missing on Tuesday, March 25, while on duty following an incident involving Haitian gangs.

"The officer was reported missing after an ambush along the Carrefour Paye-Savien main supply route in the Pont-Sonde area, Artibonite Department," the police said in a statement.

They emphasised that the MSS force, in collaboration with the Haitian National Police, was actively conducting a search and rescue operation to locate the missing officer.

Confirming the reports, the MSS spokesperson in Haiti, Jack Ombaka, stated that the incident occurred after armored personnel carriers got stuck in a ditch, suspected to have been deliberately dug by gangs.

In response, two mine-resistant vehicles were dispatched to assist in the recovery, but one also got stuck, while the other developed a mechanical issue.

"As officers attempted to repair the armored vehicles, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. As a result, one MSS Kenyan contingent member remains unaccounted for," Ombaka said.

Reports indicate that gang members took away the body of the deceased officer despite efforts by MSS personnel to retrieve it.

The incident comes just weeks after a similar tragedy in which Kenyan police officer Samwel Tompoi Kitwai was shot dead by gangs in Haiti.

The 26-year-old officer was fatally wounded during an operation in the Artibonite region and succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.

His body was repatriated to Kenya, where he was laid to rest in Kajiado county.

Tompoi was the first casualty of Kenya’s security mission in Haiti.

Source: TUKO.co.ke