The National Police Service of Kenya has held a memorial for Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, a Kenyan officer who was killed in Haiti while on a multinational peacekeeping mission. The autopsy conducted at Chiromo Mortuary in Nairobi confirmed that Kaetuai died from a single gunshot wound to the head. His body was repatriated from Haiti on Monday night for burial in his home county of Kajiado.
Kaetuai was killed on February 23 in Port-au-Prince while engaged in an operation against the Gran-Grif gang in Ségur. In Haiti, a memorial mass was held at Saint Jerome Parish in Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite, led by Father Wilder Jean-Baptiste. The church, which has been in existence since 1725, was filled with mourners, including schoolchildren and local residents who paid tribute to Kaetuai’s bravery and service.
During the service, Venson François, head of the Saint-Marc prosecutor’s office, read a condolence message from Haitian police Director General Normil Rameau. He urged the public to support law enforcement in their efforts to combat the rampant gang violence that has plagued Haiti. Local residents also expressed their solidarity and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting security forces in their ongoing operations against gangs.
Kenya has deployed at least 800 police officers under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti to help restore order amid escalating violence. Inspector General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja visited Kaetuai’s family in Naserian Village, Kajiado East, to offer condolences and honor his sacrifice. Kanja described Kaetuai as a hero who died in the line of duty while defending global peace.
Haiti has been in the grip of severe gang violence, with over 5,500 people killed in 2024 alone. The United Nations has reported widespread displacement, with over a million people forced to flee their homes. Despite efforts by Haiti’s transitional presidential council to restore order, progress in organizing long-delayed elections remains slow. The Kenyan government has reaffirmed its commitment to the well-being of its deployed officers and continues to monitor the situation closely.
