The Presidential Transitional Council (PTC) of Haiti has identified the Kenyan police officer who was allegedly killed by the Caribbean gang as Benedict Kabiru.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Haitian government disclosed that Kabiru was shot dead on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Savien, while carrying out an anti-gang operation.
According to the transitional council, the officer, who was part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, was killed during the operation carried out jointly with the Haitian forces.
While mourning him, Haiti's President, Fritz Alphonse Jean, termed Kabiru a valiant police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice for a better future for the Caribbean country.
“The Presidential Transitional Council (PTC) extends its deepest condolences to the government and people of Kenya, as well as to the family of Bénédict Kabiru, who fell on Monday, 24 March 2025, in Savien while carrying out his mission,” read part of the statement by the PTC.
“This valiant police officer, engaged alongside Haitian forces in the fight against insecurity, made the ultimate sacrifice for a better future for our country. His bravery and commitment will never be forgotten,” the statement added.
Addressing the press, the Haitian president vowed to pursue the armed criminals who shot Kabiru dead, further promising to hold them accountable for their actions before the courts.
Meanwhile, the death of Kabiru first emerged on Tuesday, March 25, after local media in Haiti reported his demise following a confrontation with the gangs.
During the incident, three armoured vehicles belonging to the peacekeepers were also set on fire by armed gangs, with footage of the scene shared online showing the vehicles engulfed in flames.
Confirming the tragedy, Kenyan Police Spokesperson in Haiti, Jack Ombaka, revealed that the incident occurred after the vehicles got stuck in a ditch, suspected to have been deliberately dug by the gangs.
In response, two MSS Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from Pont-Sonde, located in central Haiti, were dispatched to assist in the recovery.
According to Ombaka, it was during the recovery of the armoured vehicles that the gang members launched an ambush on the officers. Following the incident, the gangs made away with Kabiru's body.
As per the Kenyan National Police Service (NPS), specialised teams have since been deployed to search and find the police officer whose body is still believed to be in the custody of the gangs.
