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

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has dismissed speculation surrounding the fate of missing Kenyan police officer under Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, Benedict Kabiru.

Speaking during Eid celebrations in Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kanja assured the public that the search operation is ongoing and updates would be provided once there is concrete information.

"We have our officer who is still missing in Haiti, and we are ongoing with search operation and we will find him. And when we find him, we will update you," Kanja said.

While acknowledging the challenges facing Kenyan officers in Haiti, he praised their ongoing efforts in stabilising the crisis-hit Caribbean nation but refrained from confirming whether Kabiru was alive or dead.

Meanwhile, Kabiru’s family has expressed deep concern over the authorities’ silence nearly a week after his alleged disappearance.

According to a statement earlier released by the National Police Service (NPS), Kabiru was part of a rescue mission when his unit was ambushed by armed gangs in Haiti, leading to his disappearance.

His mother, Jecinta Wanjiku, voiced her distress over the lack of updates, questioning whether the authorities were making any real progress in locating him.

"I wonder what is happening where my son is. Have they remained silent have, or is the search continuing? My plea is for them to update us on their progress. From where he disappeared, how far have they reached?” Wanjiku said.

Relatives echoed her frustrations, citing repeated but unfruitful attempts to get information from local police commanders. The uncertainty has taken a toll on the family, with Kabiru’s son left wondering about his future in the absence of his father.

“I have been burdening my brother and sister, asking them to accompany me to the authorities every day for updates. When we return home, I find my grandson full of questions. He asks me, ‘Shosho, I am supposed to go to university. What if my father is dead?’", Wanjiku painfully narrated.

Amidst the anxiety, conflicting reports have emerged regarding Kabiru’s fate.

On Thursday, March 27, Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) claimed that a Kenyan police officer was killed while serving in the MSS mission. The officer lost his life on Monday, March 24, in Savien while assisting Haitian forces in combating insecurity.

Condemning the attack, the TPC reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating criminal groups and ensuring those responsible face justice. The council emphasised that impunity would not be tolerated.

This comes just weeks after the first Kenyan officer killed after sustaining injuries during an operation in Haiti was repatriated and buried in Kajiado county.

Source: TUKO.co.ke