Police denies communication lapses with families of deployed officers

The Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti has refuted claims that families of Kenyan police officers deployed in the Caribbean nation are not receiving updates about their loved ones.

In an interview with NTV, MSS Spokesperson Jack Ombaka assured the public that the government has implemented several measures to maintain continuous communication with officers’ families.

This comes amid growing concern from relatives of officers, including the family of Benedict Kabiru, who went missing following a gang ambush in Haiti. 

Six days after his disappearance, the family has voiced frustration over what they described as a lack of concrete information regarding Kabiru’s status. 

A prayer service was held last Sunday in Thamanda, Kikuyu, Kiambu County, as loved ones sought divine intervention for his safe return.

Responding to the concerns, Ombaka emphasized that communication remains a top priority for the MSS. 

He revealed that Wi-Fi facilities have been installed at all MSS bases in Haiti to ensure officers can remain in contact with their families.

“As we speak, I’m using the Wi-Fi facilities for MSS. Everywhere in our bases, we have set up Wi-Fi,” he said.

Additionally, Ombaka said that the Kenyan government provides each officer with airtime and data bundles, further facilitating communication with loved ones back home.

“We have so many of our social media handles shared online, and every time there’s an incident, whether positive or negative, we share these updates through our social media platforms,” he added.

Ombaka noted that the Office of the Spokesperson has now been merged with the Office of the Director of Strategic Communication to further streamline information flow.

“This is very deliberate. The reason behind it is to make sure that information reaches the target audience as fast as possible,” he said.

Despite these assurances, Kabiru's family continues to wait for clear information about his condition.