Days after the tragic death of Kenyan police officer Corporal Kennedy Nzuve in Haiti, his family has spoken out, remembering him as a cheerful and devoted son who remained optimistic about his mission abroad.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Wednesday, September 3, his mother, Serah Ndunge, revealed that she had spoken to her only child just days before the accident.
Nzuve, who was serving under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), told her he was adjusting well to life in the violence-plagued Caribbean nation and was already looking forward to returning home for leave in November.
“We spoke on Friday, August 29. He was happy. He had no issues with Haiti. In fact, he told me how much he had grown to love the country,” Ndunge recalled, her voice heavy with grief.
Her hopes were shattered when news came that Nzuve had died on August 31 in a road accident involving two armoured vehicles in the hills above Port-au-Prince. According to MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka, the accident occurred along the treacherous Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road during a recovery operation. A vehicle towing another developed mechanical problems, leading to the fatal crash.
The accident claimed two lives, including Nzuve’s, and left eight other officers injured, three critically. He was rushed to Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The family has since appealed to the government to help repatriate his body and ensure he receives a dignified burial. “We would like the government to help in burying our son. We are hoping for the necessary support to give him a befitting send-off,” said a relative, Faith Phillip.
Born on March 8, 1984, in Machakos County, Nzuve joined the National Police Service in 2005 and rose through the ranks in the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), serving in several regions including Narok and Baringo. The MSS hailed him as a courageous officer and a symbol of Kenya’s commitment to international peace and security.
