• The body was found inside his house on Thursday morning. He was said to have been struggling with drugs, alcohol abuse.
• Recent report says at least 217 police officers are undergoing treatment for mental illness countrywide.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
A warder at Eldama Ravine Prison has committed suicide by hanging.
The body of Constable Cyrus Cherutich was found in his house on Thursday morning, after his death Wednesday night.
He is suspected to have taken his life due to depression, an increasing problem among prisons officers, police and other security forces.
“We received the bad news about the death of the officer on Thursday morning” Eldama Ravine Prison superintendent Francis Kimani said.
Kimani said preliminary reports indicate the officer had been battling mental illness for some time and it could be the reason he took his own life.
He said his mental condition had led to abuse of drugs and alcohol.
“He had earlier undertaken rehabilitation as recommended by the prison wellness committee,” Kimani said.
He said the officer was due to report to Kabarnet GK Prison in Baringo Central. He had requested to be transferred to a station nearer to his home.
“He was to report to his new station in Kabarnet on Thursday but unfortunately he decided to take his own life,” Kimani said.
Kimani urged prison officers to take advantage of their wellness committees, saying they will help them deal with depression and other issues.
“We have a wellness committee that is taking their problems at hand and they are being assisted so there is no reason for them to commit suicide," the prison boss said.
He indicated 12 officers have been taken to a rehabilitation centre and a number of them are doing well.
Kimani asked his officers to avoid too much borrowing, saying financial problems are a major cause of mental illness among the officers.
The death of the warder is one of many cases of depression, violence and suicide among prisons and police officers countrywide. Some have turned guns on colleagues or relatives.
NPSC said a total 2017 police officers within the National Police Service are currently undergoing treatment for mental illness across the country.
The figures are contained in a document tabled before the National Assembly's Committee on Administration and National Security.
According to the report, a further 104 officers with mental illness, including psychosis, have been scheduled for assessment by the medical board established by the commission.
The assessment, said NPSC chairman Eliud Kinuthia, will determine the suitability of the officers to continue with their duties.
“The above situation poses a great challenge to the well-being of members of the Police Service and operational efficiency in delivering security services.
"There is a great concern for the need to respond to these circumstances,” the NPSC document reads.
(Edited by V. Graham)