MOMBASA, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has dismissed reports suggesting that more Kenya Police officers have died during the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti than officially acknowledged.
Speaking to the media on Monday night, Murkomen clarified that only one police officer has been confirmed dead, following a recent ambush by Haitian gangs.
He reiterated the official statement from the Police Inspector General, Douglas Kanja, that another officer remains missing, but there was no evidence to suggest a cover-up or any additional fatalities.
“You cannot hide it because the officers who have gone there are countable by number,” Murkomen said, adding that the loss of one officer was deeply saddening.
He emphasized that the ongoing search for the missing officer continues, echoing earlier remarks by Kanja.
Murkomen also highlighted that two other officers had been injured during the mission and are now recovering.
Despite the challenges, he assured the public that the welfare of over 700 Kenyan officers deployed in Haiti remained transparent, as they are in constant communication with their families back home.
“There is nothing to hide. Even if you wanted to hide it, it is not possible because the officers who are there are speaking to their families and Kenyans,” Murkomen said, stressing that any official statements about the officers’ welfare are made with respect to their families first.
The Interior CS further addressed the broader security situation in Haiti, acknowledging the recent resurgence of gang violence exacerbated by political instability.
“There has been a resurgence of gun activities in recent times, heightened by political unrest in the country. As a result, numerous strategies and efforts are being implemented to ensure the safety of our officers as they work to restore law and order in Haiti,” he explained.
Murkomen’s statements came in response to circulating rumors that suggested a higher death toll among the Kenyan officers, a narrative he firmly denied, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency and the safety of its personnel abroad.
The situation in Haiti remains volatile, but the Kenyan officers’ role in assisting local authorities and stabilizing the region continues to be a priority, with efforts ongoing to ensure their security as the mission progresses.
