Police are investigating the circumstances under which a senior police officer died after a pistol he was handling allegedly discharged a bullet that killed him at the Kegonga police station, Kuria, Migori County.
Superintendent James Mugo Kabachia who was the Kuria East Sub County Police Commander succumbed to bleeding following an injury he sustained on July 1 in the evening.
The incident happened at 4 pm Monday as he received the weapon for night operations.
Police said he was receiving a pistol from the station armoury and was conducting safety precautions on the weapon when it discharged a bullet fatally injuring him.
The officer who was in charge of the armoury reported she had issued Mugo with a Berreta pistol loaded with 15 bullets when he decided to do safety checks on the weapon.
The precaution checks are common and necessary for the holders to be sure of the safety of the weapon.
But how the precautions are conducted can turn fatal, at times, officials said.
It was then that he reportedly discharged one bullet from the weapon hitting himself in the right thigh.
The bullet exited through the right buttock capturing a key vein, officials said.
Mugo was rushed to Kegonga Sub County Hospital and later referred to Migori County Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His colleagues said he bled excessively which is believed to have caused the death.
The body was preserved at the facility mortuary pending autopsy.
Police said they intend to investigate how the incident happened.
Witnesses and first responders are among those to be interviewed over the incident.
A team from Migori was sent to join those on the ground in investigating the incident, officials said.
Such accidents are common within the service. Officials term them accidents.
The family of the officer was informed of the tragedy.
