Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Sunday visited the family of Samuel Tompoi, the Kenyan officer who lost his life while on duty in Haiti. During his visit, he assured the family that the government was committed to implementing key reforms to safeguard the well-being of officers deployed in the foreign nation.
Speaking at Naserian Village in Kajiado County, the IG reiterated the government’s dedication to ensuring the safety and welfare of Kenyan officers serving in Haiti. He emphasized that measures were being put in place to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
While promising that Tompoi's body will be flown back to Kenya this week, Kanja noted that the government remained in constant communication with the deployed officers, closely monitoring their situation and addressing any emerging concerns.
"He assured that the well-being of the officers deployed for the mission in Haiti remains a top priority of the Kenyan government, and there is constant communication with the team to ensure they receive the necessary support," a statement from the National Police Service read in part.
IG Kanja eulogised Tompoi as a hero and an ambassador who sacrificed his life in the line of duty while upholding global peace.
He emphasized that the officer was highly trained for the mission and that his passing was a significant loss to the National Police Service.
Tompoi's Return
Meanwhile, Kanja confirmed that Tompoi's body will be repatriated between March 4 and 6, ahead of his burial.
Kanja was accompanied on the visit by senior officers of the NPS including Deputy Inspector Generals Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli. Also present were Kajiado Senator Peris Tobiko, State House Controller Katoo Ole Metito, and National Police Service Commission(NPSC) Commissioner John Ole Moyaki, among other government officials.
The officer, deployed under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, was shot on February 23 after suspected gang members ambushed a police patrol.
He sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. He was ultimately airlifted to Aspen Level 2 Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Today, Sunday, February 23rd, 2025, one of our MSS officers from the Kenyan contingent was injured during an operation in Ségur-Savien, in the Artibonite department. The officer was immediately airlifted to Aspen Level 2 Hospital but, unfortunately, succumbed to the injuries," the statement read.
Kenya has deployed over 600 police officers to Haiti, including an all-women Special Weapons and Tactics team, as part of the UN-backed MSS mission, with plans to increase the number to 1,000.
