Kajiado: A family in Naserian Village, Kajiado County, has been thrust into mourning following the tragic death of Samuel Kaetuai, a police officer who was shot dead in Haiti. The officer, who was among 600 Kenyan police officers working as part of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti from 2024, was shot by suspected gang members while on patrol on February 23, 2025.
According to Kenya News Agency, a statement released by the National Police Service detailed that Kaetuai, 28, sustained gunshot wounds during the attack at Artibonite region, north of the capital Port au Prince, and was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Kaetuai Salaash, the slain officer’s father, mourned his son’s death, terming it a big blow to the whole family. Salaash said he was informed of his son’s demise Monday morning by police officers who visited his home to break the news. He mentioned that they were still in shock and urged the government to ensure that his body is brought back home for a proper send-off.
Amos Kaetuai, the officer’s brother, expressed that they had lost a breadwinner who took care of the whole family. He said they had received the news with shock as he had been constantly communicating with them since he was deployed to Haiti 8 months ago.
Kaetuai’s widow, Naomi Samuel, noted that her husband was a caring man who ensured that his family and two children lacked nothing. She mentioned that they had not spoken on the phone in the past few weeks due to his busy schedule, but they always communicated through messages. His demise has left her with two young children to care for.
Kaetuai joined the police service in 2021 and worked in Wajir and Mandera counties before being deployed to Haiti in June 2024. He is the first police officer reported to have lost his life in Haiti since the mission began.