IG Kanja leads tributes for officer killed in Haiti peacekeeping mission

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that all logistical preparations for transporting the body had been completed and that the journey from Haiti would commence on the 4th.

He made these remarks during a Sunday service at the officer’s family home in Naserian, East Kajiado.

Kanja expressed his condolences to the family of Mzee Kaetuai Lesaru Saash, the deceased officer's father, and described the fallen officer as a hero who died fighting to restore security and protect Haitians' rights.

He assured the family of the government’s and police department’s unwavering support during this difficult period.

The Sunday service, organized by local churches to comfort the bereaved family, was attended by senior police officials and local leaders from Kajiado.

The Multinational Security Support Mission confirmed on X early Monday that a Kenyan officer had “succumbed to injuries” sustained during an operation.

The National Police Service also acknowledged the officer’s death, stating that he had come under fire from suspected gang members on Sunday. Despite being rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds, he unfortunately did not survive.

Kenya’s Foreign Ministry Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei expressed his grief on X, saying he was "heartbroken by the loss of a member of Kenya's deployment."

The Haiti mission faced temporary uncertainty earlier this month when the US government suspended international funding under President Donald Trump’s directive. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later issued a waiver, allowing the funding for the Haiti operation to proceed.

Haiti has been grappling with escalating gang violence, with the United Nations reporting that at least 5,601 people were killed in gang-related incidents last year—1,000 more than in 2023.

The UN also documented 315 lynchings of alleged gang members and 281 suspected summary executions by police. This violence has displaced over a million Haitians, according to the UN’s migration agency.