Kenyan Officer Confirmed Dead in Haiti After Months of Confusion

The National Police Service (NPS) has officially confirmed the death of Administration Police Service officer Benedict Kabiru, who was part of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.

According to the NPS, Kabiru was killed on March 25, 2025, during a gang ambush in the Pont-Sondé region, one of the areas hardest hit by criminal activity in the troubled Caribbean nation. His death comes amid growing scrutiny of Kenya’s role in the Haiti mission, which has faced mounting risks and casualties since its inception.

Confirmation of Kabiru’s death was only made public on September 25, 2025, after months of conflicting reports and official silence. His family was first alerted indirectly, when President William Ruto named Kabiru among three Kenyan officers killed in Haiti during his address at the UN General Assembly. Relatives say the revelation through international media rather than formal communication left them blindsided and devastated.

The officer’s remains have not yet been recovered, as his body is believed to be in gang-controlled territory, further complicating retrieval efforts. His family has since called on the Kenyan government to take urgent measures to bring his body home for a dignified burial.

Kabiru’s death underscores the growing dangers of the mission, as gangs in Haiti continue to resist international forces. Human rights groups and security analysts have warned that Kenyan forces are increasingly vulnerable in an environment marked by political instability, armed violence, and weak state institutions.

The Kenyan government has yet to outline clear steps for recovery of Kabiru’s body, but the confirmation has reignited questions over the mission’s viability and the toll it is taking on Kenyan families.