The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The remains of Police Officer Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, who was killed while on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti, were returned to Nairobi on Monday evening and received with full honors at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
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Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, Gilbert Masengeli, led a delegation of officers to welcome the fallen officer’s body. Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko, along with family members and friends, including his father Salaash Kaetuai, were also present.
The body was taken to Chiromo Mortuary for preservation while burial preparations are underway. The date for the funeral will be announced soon.
Kaetuai was killed by armed gangs while on duty in Haiti. The Multinational Security Support Mission confirmed his death in late February, stating that he died from injuries sustained during an operation. The National Police Service later confirmed that he was shot by suspected gang members and passed away from gunshot wounds despite efforts to rush him to the hospital.
Principal Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Korir Sing’Oei, expressed his condolences on X, stating that he was “heartbroken by the loss of a member of Kenya’s deployment.”
Haiti has been facing severe gang violence, with the United Nations reporting 5,601 killings in 2024—1,000 more than the previous year. The UN also documented 315 lynchings of suspected gang members and 281 suspected summary executions by police. Over a million Haitians have been displaced due to the ongoing crisis, according to the UN migration agency.
The Kenyan-led peacekeeping mission faced temporary challenges in February when the US, under a directive from President Donald Trump, suspended international funding. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later issued a waiver, allowing the operation to continue.
