An autopsy confirmed that Samuel Kaetuai, a 26-year-old Kenyan police officer, died from a gunshot wound while serving in Haiti. His body was repatriated to Kenya after a two-week wait. Kaetuai’s death marks the first casualty among the Kenyan police contingent deployed to assist with security operations in Haiti since the mission began in June 2024.
An autopsy on the body of 26-year-old police officer Samuel Kaetuai, who was killed in Haiti, revealed that he died from a single gunshot wound. The postmortem was performed on March 11 at the Chiromo Funeral Parlour in Nairobi, confirming that he succumbed to bleeding from a head injury.
Kaetuai’s remains were repatriated to Kenya on Monday after a two-week wait, allowing family members to finally identify their loved one. His body was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by a delegation of police officers, including Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli and family members.
Details regarding Kaetuai’s funeral arrangements are pending; however, his body will be preserved at the Chiromo mortuary until preparations are completed. He lost his life during a police operation aimed at combating gangs in the Western Artibonite region of Haiti, approximately 92 kilometers from Port-au-Prince.
On February 24, Commander Godfrey Otunge of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission announced that Kaetuai was airlifted to a hospital in Haiti shortly after being shot but did not survive. In a gesture of support, Inspector General Douglas Kanja and other senior officials visited Kaetuai’s family in Kajiado County to express their condolences.
The Kenyan MSS mission has been active in Haiti since June 2024, working to curb violence from organized gangs. Despite facing numerous challenges, including lack of equipment, Kaetuai represents the first fatality among the Kenyan personnel deployed on this mission.
In summary, the autopsy of Samuel Kaetuai revealed he died from a gunshot wound while on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti. His remains have been returned to Kenya for identification and preservation until burial arrangements are finalized. The mission in Haiti, aimed at addressing gang violence, continues to encounter significant challenges, with Kaetuai being the first casualty from the Kenyan forces.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
