A bodyguard attached to Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu was found dead after a suspected suicide incident in a rental house in Nanyuki Town.
Constable Chrispine Ochieng, who has worked with the governor since
assuming office in September 2022, is said to have shot himself through the mouth on Wednesday, January
29 afternoon with the bullet exiting through the back of the head.
He allegedly used his personal Ceska pistol in the mission at his rental apartment, police who visited the scene said.
His lifeless body was found
lying dead on a chair on the rooftop of the said apartment with blood oozing
from his mouth and nose.
A Ceska pistol with 12 rounds,
three spent cartridges, and a ricochet bullet head was recovered on the floor,
police said.
Laikipia East police boss John Tarus confirmed
the 3pm incident.
The motive of the incident is yet to be known.
The officer lived alone at the estate but has a wife and a three-month-old baby back
at his rural home in Nyanza.
He is reported to have taken a boda boda ride
from Nanyuki town to his home, about three kilometres away.
He had instructed the rider to wait for him so
that they could go back to town together.
The rider said he heard the sound of a gunshot,
prompting him to report the incident at a local police station.
Police visited the scene and moved the body to the mortuary pending autopsy and other investigations.
This is the latest such incident to happen in the police service.
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.
Authorities said police officers worldwide tend to die by suicide more than the general public.
Those facing trauma and mental issues are urged to seek help or share their issue to avoid tragedies.
