MIGORI,Kenya, Feb, 20 – A Police Constable shot dead his wife before turning the gun on himself in Suna West Migori County on Saturday evening.
Constable Anthony Mwangi Njuguna 29 left the office at around 11pm and proceeded to his residence at Kawa junction but did not return his issued AK-47 rifle.
Senior officers rushed to his residence and found his body and that of his wife Maureen Moraa Kiriago 27, in a pool of blood.
The deceased officer made an entry in the Occurrence Book (OB), OB43/19/2/2022 at 11.10pm indicating that he had booked off duty. He then proceeded to his residence without handing over his firearm serial number 60030673 to the officer in charge of the armoury,” a brief to police headquarters read.
Detectives recovered the firearm with a magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition.
A total of 17 spent cartridges were also found at the scene and it is believed he fired 17 times,” a senior officer said.
A neighbour told the police he heard the two quarrel before gunshots were heard.
A number of officers have died by suicide in the last few months and experts partly attribute this to stress and trauma.
On January 8, another officer identified as Constable Jacob Masha also turned his gun on himself inside his house at Makupa police station.
Preliminary investigations showed he had locked himself in the house and shot himself on the lower part of the chin. His colleagues found a G3 riffle of serial number 005472 loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition at the scene.
On December 9 last year, another police officer left behind an alleged emotional suicide note before taking his life.
The Constable based at Changamwe police station said he was suffering from depression and was unable to clear some debts that pushed him to the extreme.
In the three-page note, the deceased also gave directives to his colleagues on what they should do before his burial.
A day earlier, another police officer, Constable Benson Imbatu, shot dead his lover and five other people before turning the gun on himself in Kangemi, Nairobi.
The same day, President Uhuru Kenyatta while speaking during the passing out of 2,502 General Service Unit (GSU) officers at Embakasi noted that mental health was a real problem and urged police officers to seek help.
“If you see you have a problem, please look for someone to talk to. You will find solution. There is nothing that cannot be resolved. We are ready to work with you,” the President said.
The police service has come up with measures to offer psychiatric support amid reports that about 12,000 officers were facing mental health challenges.
Dr Frank Njenga, the Chairman of Chiromo Health Group and the Presidential Advisor on mental health has warned the exposure of the police officers was not like what ordinary people face.
“The risks they are exposed to place them at a higher risk of mental illness,” he said.
“It is important to note that frontline officers for instance those who respond fast to distress calls are exposed to Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” he added.
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) CEO Vincent Onyango Commission has said the service already has adequate plans to support officers adding that in special cases, deployment and transfer of officers will consider such factors like the health of the officers.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
