Police IG Kanja says search for officer Benedict Kabiru missing in Haiti still ongoing
Speaking during Eid celebration in Eastleigh on Sunday, IG Kanja confirmed that an active search operation is still underway in Haiti.
The search for Kenyan police officer, Benedict Kabiru, who went missing in Haiti, remains ongoing, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has confirmed.
Kabiru was among officers ambushed by a gang while on a rescue mission in the troubled Caribbean nation.
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His family and friends have increasingly grown frustrated by the lack of concrete updates from authorities six days after his disappearance.
On Sunday, they held a prayer service at their home in Thamanda, Kikuyu, in Kiambu County, seeking divine intervention for his safe return.
Tears flowed freely as Kabiru’s relatives and neighbours grappled with his disappearance and the limited information provided by police.
“I keep wondering what is happening where he is. Have they remained silent as we 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?” Kabiru’s mother, Jecinta Wanjiku, asked, voicing her frustration over the silence by authorities.
Daniel Kabiru, a relative, echoed the concerns, emphasising the family’s struggle for updates.
“Since Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we have been in communication with the sub-county commander. However, we are constantly told to wait. Every time we visit the office, we are informed that a search and rescue mission is underway, but we have not received any tangible updates,” he told Citizen TV.
Jacinta Kabiru, the mother of Kenyan police officer Benedict Kabiru who is in Haiti, speaking to journalists about her missing son on March 27, 2025. (Photo: Courtesy)
Emotional toll
The prolonged uncertainty has taken an emotional toll on both the family and the larger Thamanda community.
Wanjiku also shared the burden the disappearance has placed on her household, particularly on Kabiru’s son.
“I have been burdening my brother and sister, asking them to take me to the authorities for updates. When I return home, I find my grandson full of questions. He asks, ‘Shosho, I am supposed to go to university. What if my father is dead?’ I tell him, ‘You will study, and you will succeed’,” she recounted.
Philip Kamau, Kabiru’s brother, described the distress their mother is enduring.
“Our mother is struggling. Sometimes she has no energy, she doesn’t eat, she doesn’t sleep. It is mentally exhausting for us. Why is the government not telling us the truth?” he asked.
Community Policing Chairman Peter Kibiru highlighted the growing concerns among locals who feel left in the dark.
“Since news of Kabiru’s disappearance broke, the community has had so many questions. They keep asking for updates, but we have no answers to give them,” he said.
Speaking during Eid celebration in Eastleigh on Sunday, IG Kanja confirmed that an active search operation is still underway in Haiti.
“We are committed to finding officer Kabiru, and updates will be provided once we have concrete information,” he said.
Kanja also praised the Kenyan contingent in Haiti for their efforts to stabilise the volatile nation, nine months after their deployment as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission. However, he did not confirm whether Kabiru was alive or dead.
Since Kabiru’s disappearance on March 25, 2025, conflicting reports have emerged regarding his fate.
A statement from Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council last week indicated that a security officer had died during the ambush. However, Kenyan authorities have yet to provide an official confirmation.
Kabiru’s family continues to cling on to hope, waiting anxiously for news of his fate.
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