Babu Owino seeks update on Kenyan police deployment in Haiti
Owino voiced concern about the well-being of the officers, citing the heightened dangers they may be facing in the troubled Caribbean nation.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the condition and whereabouts of Kenyan security personnel deployed in Haiti as part of the Multi-National Security Support mission.
In a video posted on X on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Owino voiced concern about the well-being of the officers, citing the heightened dangers they may be facing in the troubled Caribbean nation.
Speaking during a committee session, Babu Owino highlighted growing concerns from families of Kenyan officers deployed in Haiti under the Multi-National Security Support mission.
“Regarding the Haiti matter, we’re aware that the situation on the ground is quite dire. Some families have reached out, seeking information about their loved ones stationed there.
We've also received reports indicating that our officers are facing significant risks,” Owino said.
Given the dangers surrounding the mission, the outspoken legislator pressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for clarity on the compensation package for the officers involved.
Babu Owino urged Mudavadi to disclose the exact amount the personnel would earn upon completing their deployment.
“I’ve been told that going to Haiti means you either return in a coffin or come back with a coffin full of money. My question is, if it’s the latter, how much money will these officers be bringing home?” he posed.
Babu Owino’s calls for accountability come amid growing concern from the family of Benedict Kabiru, a Kenyan police officer who went missing in March 2025 while serving in Port-au-Prince under the Multi-National Security Support mission.
In a recent move, Kabiru’s family wrote to Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, seeking a formal update on his status and pressing for confirmation on whether he is alive or deceased.
The family has also given the government a 30-day deadline to provide clear information about Kabiru’s whereabouts, warning that they will pursue legal action if no satisfactory response is given.
They accuse the authorities of remaining silent and providing inconsistent updates from Haiti.
“This search mission has become nothing more than a routine statement. We have formally demanded a written and unconditional response,” said Mbuthi Gathenji, the family’s lawyer.
