CS Murkomen confirms Kenyan officer killed in Haiti, another missing
"Even if you want to hide it, it’s impossible because the police officers have families back home, and they communicate. There are more than 700 officers, there is no way you can hide information from them because they communicate directly with their families and even the media," he said.
The Interior Ministry has clarified that only one Kenyan police officer has lost his life while serving in Haiti, countering reports that suggested more casualties.
Two others sustained injuries and are recovering, while one officer remains missing.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement during an interview in Mombasa.
"It’s not true that many of our police officers have lost their lives. You cannot hide it because the officers who have gone to Haiti are accountable by number. We know we lost a police officer, unfortunately. We feel very sad about the circumstances under which we lost him," he said.
Murkomen said the situation on the ground remains tense due to a rise in gang-related activity, worsened by political events in the country.
Despite this, Murkomen maintained that the Kenyan team is intact and the government is fully informed about their status.
The first group of 400 Kenyan police officers joined the peacekeeping force in 2024, followed by another 300.
They were deployed to support a UN-endorsed initiative aimed at stabilizing the troubled Caribbean nation.
Murkomen added that efforts are ongoing to trace the missing officer.
He said the government has been careful to share accurate updates with the public and has prioritised communication with families of those affected.
"We have been giving factual information about the mission so that we do not hurt families. When something happens, we make sure that their families have been approached first before making the information public," he said.
The CS dismissed suggestions that the government has been withholding information.
"Even if you want to hide it, it’s impossible because the police officers have families back home, and they communicate. There are more than 700 officers, there is no way you can hide information from them because they communicate directly with their families and even the media," he said.
He acknowledged that the work in Haiti remains risky but said all efforts are being made to ensure officer safety.
"Therefore, a lot of strategies and efforts are being expended to make sure our officers are kept safe, even as they work hard to bring law and order in Haiti, noted Murkomen.
"Sad as it may be, the work of a police officer is always a dangerous job every day."