A police officer
died by suicide after shooting himself at his place of work at Kyuso police
station, Kitui County.
The incident
happened on Monday, December 2 morning after constable Isaac Wesonga had been
issued with a firearm for the day’s work.
The motive of the incident
is yet to be known, police said.
Wesonga had been issued with the firearm alongside his colleague when he stepped out of the cell sentry office and shot himself at the report office in the chin.
The bullet exited on
the head killing him on the spot.
Police said they are investigating the suicide incident.
The body was moved to the local mortuary pending autopsy and other investigations.
Elsewhere in Thika, Kiambu County, a police officer was found dead in his house.
The body of Constable Samuel Chege attached to the Railways police station in Thika was found long after he had died.
The body did not have any visible injuries when it was found, police said.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and other investigations.
The incidents come days after a police officer was found dead after a suspected suicide incident in Nyeri Town.
The incident happened on Saturday, November 30 at the Nyeri Central Sub County offices.
Constable George Kimiti Gichuki was the armourer at the Administration Police Service offices where he died.
He is said to have his AK47 rifle to shoot himself in the chest.
The bullet went through the back killing him instantly, police said.
Police said the body had a single bullet hole through the left side of the chest.
The bullet exited on the upper left side of the back.
The body had no other visible injuries and an AK47 rifle without a magazine was recovered lying beside him.
The detached magazine with 19 bullets was found at the scene.
Police said a spent cartridge and a bloodstained projectile suspected to have exited from the body were recovered on the floor.
Two
weeks ago, a corporal of police was found dead after he shot himself in the
chin in a suicide mission at the National Police Service Campus in Nyeri
County.
The incident happened Monday November 18 morning and involved Corporal Collins
Imoni Onyando.
He blew his head near the residence of the college commandant.
The motive of the incident is yet to be known, police said.
Police said Onyando shot himself below the chin and the bullet exited on the
head.
Police said a rifle, make CZ loaded with a magazine of 29 rounds of ammunition was found near his feet and an empty cartridge was recovered at the scene.
At least three suicide cases involving police officers are recorded every
month.
Officials say police
are generally on the receiving end of all community problems.
They are expected to maintain law and order in very difficult situations,
besides putting their lives at risk.
Over the years, a spike in deaths in the service has been linked to trauma.
They include deaths by gun.
Last month, police authorities said police officers worldwide tend to die by
suicide more than the general public.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also said depression affects all
people regardless of age or social status, but police officers report higher
levels of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder than the general
population.
He said police work is a very noble career because one gets to serve and protect
humanity.
However, the nature of police work as shown by research globally, is also very demanding and stressful.
He said police officers are constantly handling traumatic and disturbing scenes
of crime and accidents that often leave them with long-term mental and
psychological trauma.
“Consequently, police officers worldwide tend to commit suicides more than the general public. On the same note, depression affects all people regardless of age or social status, but police officers report higher levels of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder than the general population,” he said.
