Confusion has emerged following conflicting statements from the Office of the Attorney General and President William Ruto regarding the reported death of Kenyan police officer Bernard Kabiru in Haiti.
While President Ruto publicly announced at the United Nations that Kabiru was among three Kenyan officers who lost their lives while on duty in the troubled Caribbean nation, the Attorney General’s office has told the court it is not aware of Kabiru’s death.
The Attorney General (AG), through its representatives, stated that it had not received any official communication from the police administration confirming Kabiru’s death. This position stands in direct contradiction to the President’s remarks, sparking concern and calls for clarity.
The matter is currently before the High Court, where a petition has been filed seeking to establish the truth surrounding Kabiru’s fate. The petitioners accuse the AG’s office of withholding critical information and failing to provide updates to the family.
Lawyers representing Kabiru’s family cited President Ruto’s statement as key evidence in the case. “If the President’s statement is accurate, then it effectively disposes of the request for information since confirmation has already been made at the highest level,” the court was told.
The petitioners argued that it is now the responsibility of the Attorney General to either affirm or contradict the President’s position. “Only then can the court proceed to address the consequences of withholding the information,” they added.
They further contended that the conflicting accounts from the President and the AG’s office amount to serious allegations that require urgent judicial clarification.
President Ruto, in his speech delivered yesterday at the UN, named Kabiru among three Kenyan officers who had died in the line of duty in Haiti, where Kenya is leading an international peacekeeping mission.
The court is expected to make further directions once the AG’s office responds formally to the claims.