The family of Benedict Kabiru, an officer who went missing while on a mission in Haiti, has expressed growing concern over the limited information provided by authorities six days after his disappearance.
Kabiru was among the officers ambushed by a gang while on a rescue mission in Haiti. On Sunday afternoon, his family gathered at their home in Thamanda, Kikuyu, seeking divine intervention in the midst of their anguish.
Emotions ran high as family and friends struggled to come to terms with Kabiru’s disappearance and the apparent lack of communication from authorities. Jecinta Wanjiku, Kabiru’s mother, voiced her frustration at the silence from the police and the absence of updates regarding her son’s situation.
“I keep wondering what is happening wherever he is. Have they remained silent, just as we have, or is the search ongoing? My plea is for them to update us on their progress—from where he disappeared to how far they have gone,” said Wanjiku.
Daniel Kabiru, a relative, added, “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’re informed that a search and rescue mission is underway, but we have yet to receive any concrete updates.”
Wanjiku also shared how the situation has deeply affected her household. She revealed that her grandson, Kabiru’s son, has been consumed with worry. “My grandson is full of questions. He asks me, ‘Shosho (grandma), am I supposed to go to university? What if my father is dead?’ I tell him, ‘You will study, and you will succeed.’”
Kabiru’s wife, Mirima Watima, reminisced about the moments before her husband’s disappearance. She said Kabiru had gifted her a new iron box and a speaker just a day before vanishing. Married since 2016, when Kabiru worked in Busia County, the couple has shared a happy life together with their son.
Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, addressed the matter during Eid celebrations in Eastleigh, assuring the public that an active search operation was ongoing in Haiti. He confirmed that updates would be relayed once the officer was found but stopped short of addressing whether Kabiru was alive or dead.
Kanja also praised the Kenyan team deployed in Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission for their efforts in stabilizing the nation over the past nine months. However, uncertainty remains.
Reports from Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council as of March 25th 2025 suggested that a security officer was killed during the ambush, around the time Kabiru went missing. These claims, however, have not been officially confirmed by Kenyan authorities, leaving Kabiru’s fate unclear.
For now, Kabiru’s family holds on to hope, praying for his safe return.
By Grace Githinji
