Corporal Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, 40, happily phoned his mother, Serah Ndunge, from Haiti just two days before his death. She still remembers that conversation vividly.
“We spoke on Friday. He was happy and sounded content with his stay. He even told me how much he had grown to love Haiti,” she said in an interview with Citizen TV.
Nzuve had assured her that he was safe and told her he was looking forward to coming home in November for his leave. Instead, Serah is now preparing to bury her only child.
Only two days later, on Sunday, August 31, tragedy struck. Nzuve was killed in a road accident in Port-au-Prince while serving under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM). The crash happened along the dangerous Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road in Perlerin 9, an area notorious for ambushes and fatal accidents.
According to officials, two armored vehicles were involved. One was towing the other when it developed mechanical problems, leading to the collision. Nzuve was among two people who lost their lives. Eight others were injured, three critically. He was rushed to Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville but was pronounced dead shortly after.
A Life of Service
Born on March 8, 1984, in Machakos County, Nzuve joined the National Police Service in 2005. He rose through the ranks of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), serving in regions such as Narok and Baringo. Colleagues admired him for his courage, discipline, and dedication.
When Kenya deployed officers to Haiti, Nzuve was chosen to join the 3rd contingent.
To his family, however, Nzuve was not only an officer but also a kind son and a mentor who cared deeply about his community. Now his family has appealed to the government for help with repatriation and burial costs.
“We would like the government to help in burying our son. We hope for the necessary support to give him a befitting send-off,” she said.
For his mother, the grief is unbearable. Nzuve’s last words, full of joy and optimism, now linger in her memory as she mourns the man she raised alone.
By Vivian K.