The family of Peter Maina Gakau, a General Service Unit (GSU) officer based in Kasarani, is mourning his death following reports that he was killed while serving in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Peter, 32, had been attached to Embu Baraka before taking leave and traveling to Russia to reportedly take up a military assignment. According to his family, he intended to return home after completing the contract, but that plan was never realized.
His mother, Marion Njeri, revealed that her son last spoke to her about three months before news of his death reached the family. During that conversation, he mentioned that his personal documents had been destroyed amid the fighting. Despite the difficult circumstances, he remained focused on supporting his loved ones back home.
Before his death, Peter sent one million shillings to his mother. She used the money to purchase a piece of land — a “shamba” — which he had hoped to develop upon his return to Kenya. The investment now stands as a painful reminder of the plans he never got to fulfill.
Reports indicate that on January 28, 2026, Peter was shot and killed while serving in Ukraine. The news has left his family, friends, and community devastated.
Marion Njeri described her son as ambitious, disciplined, and deeply caring. She said that even while far away in a conflict zone, he constantly thought about his family’s future and worked hard to secure it.
