•The officer was enlisted in Kenya Prison Service in 2007.
•The body has been taken to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.
Image: HANDOUT
DCI detectives from Maseno in Kisumu County are probing circumstances surrounding the death of a prison officer attached to Kisumu Maximum Prison, famously known as Kodiaga.
The 37-year-old officer identified as Fred Oganyo, allegedly shot himself while on duty on Wednesday night.
The shooting incident, according to his immediate family and the police probing the matter, occurred at 9.30 pm last night.
According to the officer's wife, Mercy Onyango, the father of three had been assigned sentry duties at the prison's main gate when the tragic incident was reported.
He was with two of his colleagues with whom they had been assigned to man the facility's main entrance, according to the wife.
"I found him at the main gate, together with his two colleagues when I came back from work. It was around 8.30 pm," she said.
They spoke and she even asked for money from the deceased to buy food.
When she got to the house, it was a mess.
Household items had been scattered around the single room that the family shared with their three children, two girls and a boy.
Before he left, the officer had told the children that in case he dies, his property should be kept well.
"He was drunk. I don't understand why he was given a gun while in that state. He left the house in a mess," she told the Star on phone.
One of the children, the firstborn child sat the 2021 KCPE exam.
"We didn't quarrel. I am not aware of any differences he may have had with anyone at his place of work," she said.
She said her husband had a gunshot wound on his chest.
His body was taken to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.
Kisumu county police commander Alphonse Peter said preliminary findings show the officer was stressed.
"He was having unresolved family issues. We have been encouraging officers to discuss these problems with their confidants rather than taking their own lives," he said.
He said the incident was being Investigated by Maseno DCIO Paul Langat.
"We can't confirm for sure whether he was drunk but the fact is, he was stressed," he said.
The county police boss noted that a full report will be availed once detectives conclude the probe.
The deceased was recruited in the service in 2007, according to his wife.
Star was not able to get information about the incident from the senior prison officers at Kodiaga GK prison.