A senior police officer in Nandi County is receiving treatment after being found with gunshot wounds in what is suspected to be an attempted suicide. The incident occurred at the Chepkunyuk Police Post on September 18, raising concerns over the rising cases of mental health struggles within the service.
According to residents, a gunshot was heard from the officer’s house in the early hours of the day. When neighbours rushed to the scene, they discovered the officer lying in a pool of blood with a wound on his cheek. Investigations revealed a G3 rifle in the house loaded with a magazine containing 19 rounds, alongside five spent cartridges. Several bullet holes were also visible in the iron sheet roof.
Police confirmed that no items were stolen from the house, ruling out the possibility of a robbery. The officer was quickly rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret for specialised treatment. Authorities have not yet established the motive behind the shooting, though initial reports suggest it may have been a suicide attempt.
Mental health challenges within the National Police Service have been highlighted as a key factor contributing to such incidents. Officers often face extreme stress as they deal with crime, insecurity, and community conflicts while risking their own lives. Over the years, trauma, depression, and substance abuse have been linked to the growing number of suicides and violent cases within the service.
To counter this trend, the National Police Service Commission has established a special counselling unit that focuses on mental health issues. The unit provides psychological support, substance abuse prevention, and outreach programs to help officers cope with the pressures of their demanding roles. Counselling services are also being expanded across the service to encourage affected officers to seek help.
The World Health Organisation notes that suicide cases often stem from a combination of stressors such as financial struggles, academic or career setbacks, family history of suicide, alcoholism, and psychiatric conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. These risk factors, coupled with the nature of police work, make officers more vulnerable.
In a separate incident on the same day, police in Garissa Subcounty recovered an AK-47 rifle, five magazines, and 128 rounds of ammunition after engaging armed bandits in a shootout. One suspect was injured and arrested, while others managed to escape. Security agencies have since intensified operations to track down the fleeing suspects.
