- Dozens of police officers have died as a result of suicide or killed many in a trend that is attributed to stress at work.
- Data from the National Police Service (NPS) reveal that at least 12,000 officers are dealing with mental health issues mainly due to their line of work and demanding environment.
A police officer died after he shot himself in the mouth at the Kangema police station in Murangá County.
This is the latest such incident in the National Police Service amid calls to address the worrying trend.
Police said the constable of police shot himself while at work in the mouth using a weapon assigned to him on Tuesday, January 2 evening.
He was rushed to Murang'a Level Five Hospital for emergency treatment and admission but succumbed due to excessive bleeding, police said.
The motive of the incident is yet to be known.
A junior police officer was found dead in his house after he had shot himself in the head in a suicide incident at Ngusishi police post, Meru County.
The body of Corporal Simon Gitonga was found lying in a pool of blood in his house after the shooting on December 27 morning, police said.
His colleagues said they heard gunshots from the house he lived and when they checked they found he had used his AK47 rifle to shoot himself in the chin.
Police said the bullet went through and exited the forehead killing him instantly.
Police said they found a suicide note in the house where he lived alone. It suggested the slain officer struggled with financial and family issues.
The incident could be linked to trauma, which is on the rise among many police officers.
This has led them to commit such murders and at times die by suicide.
Dozens of police officers have died as a result of suicide or killed many in a trend that is attributed to stress at work.
Data from the National Police Service (NPS) reveal that at least 12,000 officers are dealing with mental health issues mainly due to their line of work and demanding environment.
As part of efforts to address the trend, police authorities have launched counselling services and the National Police Service Commission has established a unit and staffed it to attend to their demanding situation.
The counselling unit will, among other things, evaluate, design and lead an outreach programme that helps prevent mental health and substance abuse.
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. The World Health Organisation says such cases are attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, legal difficulties and financial difficulties.
Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder. ends