Paul Njoroge Ndung’u: Sombre Mood as Body of KDF Soldier Killed in CAR Peacekeeping Arrives in Kenya
- A heavy cloud of sorrow hung over JKIA as the body of Major Paul Njoroge Ndung’u arrived from the Central African Republic
- The fallen KDF officer was killed in an ambush on Friday, March 28, while on a UN peacekeeping patrol in Zemio, Haut-Mbomou
- KDF and grieving family members received his remains with full military honors in an emotional ceremony
- The UN condemned the attack as a war crime, vowing to pursue justice and uphold peacekeeping efforts in CAR
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - A heavy cloud of sorrow hung over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as the body of Major Paul Njoroge Ndung’u, a fallen Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer, arrived in the country from the Central African Republic (CAR).
Source: UGC
Major Ndung’u was fatally wounded on Friday, March 28, during an ambush by unidentified militants while on a routine patrol mission in Zemio, Haut-Mbomou region, under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
KDF mourns gallant officer
Military pallbearers marched side by side as they lowered their deceased comrade's remains, draped in the Kenyan flag.
With military precision, the soldiers marched behind the chaplain, who led the way before offering a prayer.
In a solemn ceremony marked by emotion and military decorum, the KDF fraternity, led by General Officer Commanding Eastern Command, Major General Luka Kutto, received the body alongside grief-stricken family, friends and colleagues.
“The KDF fraternity, the fallen officer’s family and the nation at large mourn the loss of a dedicated soldier whose unwavering commitment to peace and service will forever be remembered. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” KDF said in a statement.
The remains of the decorated soldier have been transferred to the Mashujaa Farewell Home, where burial arrangements are underway.
Major Ndung’u joins a growing list of heroes who have paid the ultimate price in pursuit of peace on foreign soil.
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How did the United Nations react to peacekeepers' death?
The United Nations, through the MINUSCA leadership, condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly assault on peacekeepers committed to protecting vulnerable populations.
Source: Facebook
Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and head of MINUSCA, expressed deep shock over the loss of the Kenyan peacekeeper.
"The Special Representative is extremely shocked by this heinous attack on peacekeepers whose mission is to protect civilians. She extends her deepest condolences to the Government and people of Kenya and expresses her full sympathy to the victim's family," read part of the UN’s statement.
A rapid response team was deployed to the scene following the ambush, as investigations commenced.
Rugwabiza warned that targeting UN peacekeepers constitutes a war crime under international law and urged CAR authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.
"Such cowardly attacks against the Mission's peacekeepers will not diminish MINUSCA's determination to carry out its mandate in service of peace and stability in the Central African Republic," she affirmed.
Kenyan police dies in Haiti
In another tragic incident, a second Kenyan police officer deployed to Haiti under the United Nations peacekeeping mission died, deepening concerns over the safety of Kenyan personnel in the troubled Caribbean nation.
According to reports, the officer succumbed to injuries sustained during violent confrontations with armed gangs in Port-au-Prince, where insecurity has escalated.
The Kenyan government, through the National Police Service, expressed condolences and assured that procedures are underway to repatriate the officer’s remains for burial.
What did IG Koome say about the incident?
The officer identified as Benedict Kabiru went missing after the gang members ambushed two mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles the MSS officers were using, resulting in a gunfire exchange.
A search and rescue operation was launched to locate him, but it was later announced by the Haitian government that the officer had died.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome downplayed the reports, saying the search mission was on. Koome executed confidence that the officer would be found alive.
His remarks came barely hours after Kabiru's family demanded answers from the Kenyan government over their son's whereabouts.
Masolo Mambonga. HOD Current Affairs and Politics updated this article with details on IG Japheth Koome's reaction.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
