‘Tell us if he’s alive’: Family of missing Kenyan officer in Haiti sues government over silence
Benedict Kabiru’s family say they have been left in distress, with no answers from officials, as fears grow that he may have been captured or killed.
The family of a Kenyan officer who vanished nearly three months ago while on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti has taken the government to court, heartbroken and desperate for answers about his whereabouts and fearing the worst after months of official silence.
Benedict Kabiru’s family say they have been left in distress, with no answers from officials, as fears grow that he may have been captured or killed.
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Kabiru went missing on March 26, 2025, during a rescue mission in the gang-controlled town of Savien, northwest of Port-au-Prince, after he and fellow Kenyan officers were reportedly ambushed.
No definitive statement
Despite mounting concerns, the government has not offered a definitive statement on whether Kabiru is alive or still under the protection of the Kenyan contingent deployed to restore order in the gang-plagued Caribbean nation.
On March 31, 2025, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja publicly stated that the search for Kabiru was still ongoing.
On April 6, the Kenyan mission in Haiti was forced to respond after a disturbing video surfaced online, allegedly showing Kabiru’s final moments and depicting a bloodied, lifeless body in uniform, fueling speculation that he had been killed.
However, Jack Ombaka, spokesperson for the MSS mission, dismissed the video as propaganda during an interview with NTV.
“We have made strong strides in the operation, and we are working tirelessly to account for all officers. Kabiru was involved in an operation in Port, and it is during this operation that he went missing. As of now, we are still working to confirm his status. He is still missing in action, and we are using all available resources to locate him,” Ombaka said.
Track down Kabiru
He noted that the mission was collaborating with local Haitian communities, the Haitian government, and international partners to track down Kabiru.
“We are receiving assistance from all parties, including the local Haitian population, the Haitian government and international partners. I am happy to report that the progress we are making is very good,” he said.
He also dismissed the video, citing concerns over misinformation.
“Many of the Haitian gangs thrive on propaganda. Given the current technological climate, particularly with the advent of AI, it is highly unlikely that the video in circulation depicts Benedict Kabiru,” he said.
“We have made efforts to contact his family and ensure they are informed, and I can confirm that the video is not authentic.”
Still in the dark
But despite the assurances, Kabiru’s family say they remain in the dark.
In a case filed at the High Court in Nairobi, Kabiru’s mother, Jacinta Wanjiku, brother Phillip Kamau, and uncle Daniel Ndung’u claim government institutions have failed to provide them with any concrete information about his condition.
They have sued Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, Inspector General Douglas Kanja, the National Police Service Commission, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
According to court filings, Kabiru was recruited as an Administration Police officer, trained at the Embakasi Administration Police Training Centre, and later posted to various hardship zones, including Busia, Garissa, Mandera, Marsabit, Boni Forest, and Moyale as part of the Border Patrol Unit.
He joined the Haiti mission on July 15, 2024, in the second deployment of Kenyan officers, following a directive by the Kenyan government.
Contact ceased
The family states that Kabiru was in good health and regularly communicated with them about his assignments, until March, when all contact ceased after rumours emerged online about a gang ambush on Kenyan peacekeepers.
“When the reports surfaced, the Director of Operations at police headquarters dismissed them as fake news from social media. But when we pressed him for details and sought clarity, he went silent,” they say.
The family says they have reached out to all responsible authorities, but have received no truthful or consistent answers.
“We have suffered untold pain and anguish. We just want to know if he is alive, and where he is,” Jacinta Wanjiku said.
“We have made numerous calls and visited all relevant offices. Everyone either avoids the issue or gives conflicting stories. We feel abandoned,” Phillip Kamau added.
They have now asked the court to compel the state to provide a full and truthful account of Kabiru’s status, including whether he is alive and under the care of Kenyan forces or any other authority.
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