MACHAKOS, Kenya – Kenyan police officer Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, who lost his life while serving in Haiti, was laid to rest on Thursday, October 2, at his home in Kyakatolwe Village, Machakos County.
The solemn ceremony drew senior police commanders, government officials, family, and hundreds of residents who came to pay their last respects.
Nzuve, who was the only child in his family, died on August 31 in a road accident while attached to the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti. The accident occurred along the treacherous Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road when an armored vehicle he was operating developed mechanical problems.
He was rushed to Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Administration Police Service (APS) Director of Operations Jackson Kangani, representing Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, hailed Nzuve as a dedicated officer.
“He was deeply committed to his duties and always considered a reliable and dependable officer by his seniors,” Kangani said during the funeral service
The burial, marked by a 21-gun salute, symbolized national recognition for his sacrifice. Among those present were Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi Kilonzo, Rapid Deployment Unit Commandant Aggrey Shamala, APS Chief of Staff Haron Nthiga, and Africa 4 Haiti Initiative CEO Edward Githaiga.
The officer leaves behind his wife, Gladys Ndunda, and two young children. His mother, Serah Nzuve, led the family delegation that received his body at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on September 26, a homecoming that was both emotional and painful
Machakos County Police Commander Monica Kimani described Nzuve’s death as a huge loss not only to his family but also to the service. “We have lost a brave officer who carried Kenya’s flag with pride on foreign soil,” she said.
The tragedy has once again spotlighted Kenya’s involvement in the Haiti mission, a deployment that has faced political and logistical challenges amid growing concerns for the safety of Kenyan officers abroad.
For the people of Kyakatolwe, however, the focus was on honouring one of their own. As the final gunshots echoed through the hills of Machakos, it was a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by Kenyan officers serving beyond the country’s borders and the heavy toll borne by their families at home.
