Police in Haiti have held a memorial service in honour of fallen officer Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai.
Tompoi lost his life in the line of duty on February 23, 2025, during an operation against the Gran-Grif gang in Ségur.
“Father Wilder Jean-Baptiste, the parish priest of Saint Jerome Parish in Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite (Diocese of Gonaïves), presided over a memorial Mass in honor of Kenyan police officer Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai. Saint Jerome Parish, founded on December 25, 1725, was filled with worshippers, including schoolchildren, who gathered to pay tribute to Samuel who lost his life in the line of duty on February 23, 2025, during an operation against the Gran-Grif gang in Ségur,” the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti stated on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
During the service, Philip Shiuma Wachiya, head of the Kenyan contingent stationed in Artibonite, delivered a speech on behalf of MSS Force Commander Godfrey Otunge.
“During the service, Mr Venson François, head of the Saint-Marc prosecutor’s office, read a condolence message from PNH Director General Normil Rameau, urging the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement to combat insecurity,” MSS stated.
MSS says local residents expressed their solidarity and called for continued operations against gangs in the region, as they vowed to support security forces on the ground and commended the bravery and determination of the joint PNH and MSS teams stationed at Pont-Sondé.
Samuel’s body arrived in Kenya on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 9:30 pm and was received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli.
The body was then transferred to Chiromo Mortuary for preservation as burial arrangements continued.
“The Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, Gilbert Masengeli, this evening, March 10, 2025, received the body of the late Police Officer Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA),” a statement from the National Police Service read.
“The body was later transferred to Chiromo Mortuary for preservation, with burial arrangements set for a later date.”
During the sombre airport visit, senior police officers including the border patrol unit’s commandant James Kamau, Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police, Director of Medical Services Administration Police Service (APS) Lilian Kanini and Police Spokesman Muchiri Nyaga were present.
Also present on the airport tarmac were the late officer’s father Kaetuai Salaash, family members and Kajiado senator Peris Tobiko.
The 28-year-old police officer sustained gunshot wounds on February 23, 2025, during an attack at Artibonite region, north of the capital Port au Prince and was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
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