Days after his death while serving in Haiti, the family of Kenyan police officer Corporal Kennedy Nzuve has revealed their son was in high spirits and enjoying his stay in the gang-ridden nation.
While speaking to Citizen TV on Wednesday, September 3, Nzuve’s mother, Serah Ndunge, disclosed that she had spoken to her only child on Friday, August 29, when he expressed his satisfaction with his stay in Haiti, despite constantly being under threat from gangs.
Ndunge noted that in the telephone call, her son, serving as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), informed her how he was looking forward to coming back to Kenya in November, when he would be on leave.
“We spoke on Friday (August 29). But on Saturday and Sunday, I did not call him. He was happy. He had no issues with Haiti. When we were speaking, he even told me how much he had grown to love the country,” Ndunge noted.
Corporal Nzuve's Death
However, Ndunge’s hopes to meet her child would be extinguished, as Nzuve died alongside a civilian following a road accident involving two armoured vehicles in the hills above Port-au-Prince.
The tragedy occurred in the evening along the Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road at Perlerin 9, an area synonymous with violent gang ambushes, deadly clashes between security forces and armed groups, and a string of fatal accidents that have turned the mountainous stretch into one of the most perilous routes outside Port-au-Prince.
According to Jack Ombaka, the MSS spokesperson, the incident happened during a recovery operation involving two MaxxPro vehicles. One of the vehicles, which was towing the other, developed mechanical problems, leading to the fatal crash.
Ombaka confirmed that, in addition to the two fatalities, eight MSS officers sustained injuries, with three in critical condition.
Nzuve, together with the injured, was rushed to Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville, where he was pronounced dead.
In the aftermath of his death, Nzuve’s family called upon the government to facilitate their loved one’s burial and assist in bringing the body back to Kenya.
“We would like the government to help in burying our son. We are hoping for the necessary support from the government to ensure we give our son a befitting send-off,” noted Faith Phillip, a relative.
They described Nzuve as a much-loved member of the family who engaged in activities aimed at uplifting the community, particularly in his rural home.
Born on March 8, 1984, in Machakos County, Nzuve joined the National Police Service in 2005 before being deployed to the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU).
He later served in various regions across Kenya, including Narok and Baringo counties.
The MSS described Corporal Nzuve as a committed and courageous officer who was part of Kenya’s 3rd contingent to the mission. His service was hailed as a testament to his dedication to international peace and security.
