Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, the Kenyan police officer who tragically died while on duty in Haiti, has had his cause of death confirmed following an autopsy.
Conducted a day after his remains were returned to Kenya, the post-mortem confirmed that the officer succumbed to injuries from a road accident.
This brings closure to nearly a month of distress for his family, who had been left in a state of uncertainty following his death on August 31.
Nzuve had been stationed in Haiti as part of the United Nations-supported Multinational Security Support Mission when the fatal incident occurred, involving the overturning of an armored vehicle during an operation in Port-au-Prince.
The news of his death, which had been shrouded in uncertainty, left his family in pain and doubt for weeks. Nzuve becomes the third Kenyan officer to die while serving in Haiti, where the Kenyan police forces have been deployed as part of international peacekeeping efforts.
On Friday night, Nzuve’s body was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with an air of profound sorrow. His family, friends, and fellow officers were present to witness the arrival of the remains.
The mood was somber as the family expressed the emotional toll the last few weeks had taken on them. “We have been waiting for an agonizing three weeks… it has been a tough moment for us,” said Steve Mutuku Peter, the family’s spokesperson.
Despite the grief, there was a sense of relief that the family could now move forward with funeral arrangements. After weeks of speculation and unanswered questions, the return of Nzuve’s body allowed them to begin the difficult process of saying goodbye.
“There have been so many speculations that he is not coming… it is a relief for us today… We can now start preparations for his burial now that we have him around… we trust God… it has been a long journey,” Peter shared, his voice filled with emotion.
A short prayer service was held by members of the Administration Police Service before Nzuve’s body was transferred to Chiromo Mortuary for preservation ahead of the funeral, which is scheduled for next Thursday.
The family has also made a request for the government to help cover the funeral expenses.
“Procedurally, it is the government that repatriated his remains. We are extending the same request as we prepare for his send-off… I’m sure the government will chip in so that we can give him a befitting send-off…” Peter said.
Nzuve’s passing is a painful reminder of the risks Kenyan officers face while serving in international peacekeeping missions.
He joins Samuel Kaetuai, who lost his life earlier this year, and Benedict Kabiru, whose body has yet to be repatriated, as the third officer to die while deployed in Haiti.
According to the autopsy conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, Nzuve’s cause of death was multiple injuries sustained during the road accident.
Now that Nzuve’s remains have arrived in Kenya and his family is beginning to prepare for his burial, they are still left to process the deep sense of loss.
Despite the tragic circumstances, they remain hopeful that his memory will be honored with the respect he deserves.