Principal Secretary for Interior Raymond Omollo has issued an assurance of government support to the family of the fallen Kenyan Police officer who died in the line of duty in Haiti.
The late police officer Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai passed on February 23, 2025, after sustaining gunshot wounds during an attack at Artibonite region, north of the capital Port au Prince.
He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Speaking during an interview with local radio on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Omollo expressed his sorrow over the demise as he detailed the plans in place ahead of the interment of the body.
“It’s quite unfortunate that we lost an officer in Haiti, who hails from Kajiado. The body came early this week and we working closely with the family to go through the final rights before his body is interred. The circumstances were quite unfortunate because he was a peacekeeping service supporting the police and in the process, we lost his life,” the PS said.
The PS further provided updates on the current status of the Kenyan soldiers engaged in the Haiti mission, stressing that the country remains proud of its force despite the existing challenges.
Omollo reiterated that Kenya’s decision to enter the Haiti mission was informed by Kenya undertaking of its responsibility as a global partner of the world community.
“We have up to now over 700 police in Haiti. They have been there for about a year and have done a commendable job. It was not us going to Haiti on our own volition. We heeded a call to help and support a peaceful return to order in Haiti,” he added.
Kenya joined the Haiti mission as part of a resolution of the UN Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the UN. The mission which is set to end in October 2025 has experienced several challenges with funding and man-power headwinds ranking high among them.
“Do we stop doing this for the challenge we have had internally to deal with? The answer is, I don’t think it is right. We have issues we are dealing with and we must constantly deal with them, but also we are a global community and when we have a responsibility to our friends and neighbours. We are proud of our officers and as a country, it’s a big show of our support,” Omollo concluded.
The foregoing comes after police in Haiti held a memorial service in honour of the fallen officer this Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service (NPS) on Monday, March 11, 2025, received the body of the soldier.
“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.”
Kaetuai became the first casualty of the police officers sent to Haiti under the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
He had joined the police service in 2021 and was the breadwinner of his family at the time of his death according to his brother Amos Kaetuai.
