President William Ruto shocked the nation when he confirmed at the 2025 United Nations General Assembly that Kenyan police officer Benedict Kabiru, who had gone missing in Haiti, was indeed dead. His announcement contradicted repeated government claims over months that Kabiru was alive and that efforts to locate him were ongoing.
Kabiru’s disappearance has been shrouded in uncertainty since March 2025, when he and other Kenyan officers were ambushed by gangs while on a mission in Haiti under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) program. His family had long been demanding truth and closure from the government.
During his address, President Ruto honored the fallen officers—including Kabiru, Samuel Tuoi, and Kennedy Nzuve—stating that their sacrifice should be remembered. He criticized previous inaction and assured that renewed efforts will be made to bring the remains of Kabiru back to Kenya, as his family has petitioned.
Kabiru’s mother, Jacinta Kabiru, expressed her anguish and frustration, saying she had been “tortured” by weeks of uncertainty and pleaded with the government to cease withholding information. “Bring the remains of my son so I may do what is necessary … I cannot believe it until I see he is there,” she lamented. His brother, Philip Kabiru, echoed those concerns, accusing the government of negligence and betrayal after entrusting them with his safety.
The family is initiating legal action to force a full disclosure of the details surrounding Kabiru’s disappearance, hoping this will compel officials to come clean.
Ruto’s revelation also shed new light on the MSS deployment. He revealed that, to date, the mission is operating at only about 40% of its intended capacity of 2,500 personnel, citing logistical and personnel shortfalls. Despite that, he insisted there had been advances—gangs driven back, schools reopened, and key infrastructure secured. He appealed to the UN Security Council and other international partners to ensure that any successor to the MSS mission must come with a strong mandate, reliable resources, and clear leadership.
This confirmation is likely to intensify scrutiny on the government’s oversight of foreign deployments and its treatment of officers in harm’s way. For Kabiru’s family, there is no solace in rhetoric—their focus remains on recovering his body, understanding the circumstances of his death, and demanding accountability.
