Cop kills two colleagues, turns gun on self at Moyale police station

An officer based at the Moyale police station in Marsabit has killed his two colleagues, injuring others before killing himself. 

His colleagues said he was supposed to report to work.

Witnesses said constable Lawrence Kumber met his colleague who was leaving duty and walking to his house within the station to pick up a document before returning his AK47 rifle.

Kumber picked up a stone and hit constable Noah Odero in the head before picking up his rifle.

The assailant then walked to the station armoury where he met the officer in charge corporal Francis Kokwe killing him on the spot.

He then turned the gun on another officer identified as Ezekiel Matete killing him at the entrance of the armoury.

Kumber also shot and injured a third officer in the shoulder as others took cover.

He then escaped from the armoury to his house where he shot himself. 

His body was discovered in the house long after the incident had happened.

The rifle lay next to the body.

The two injured officers were rushed to hospital where they were admitted in stable condition while the bodies were moved to the local subcounty mortuary.

Eastern police boss Rono Bunei said they are yet to establish the motive of the incident.

“The weapon and other exhibits have been collected as we investigate this unfortunate incident,” he said.

He said the officer had last week been blacklisted among those to be given guns from the armoury, because of his behaviour.

Elsewhere, a police officer was Saturday night killed in an accident along the Nothern Bypass in Nairobi.

Constable Boniface Mugunda of DCI headquarters was riding on his motorcycle when he was hit by an unknown motorist.

His Ceska pistol and other personal valuables were recovered.

Police said he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Kenyatta University Hospital. An investigation has been launched.

He did not have physical injuries and had his protective gear at the time of the accident.

The shooting incident is the latest to happen in the service.

Dozens of police officers have died of suicide and shooting, a trend that is attributed to stress at work.

As part of efforts to address this, police authorities have launched counselling services.

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 monthly.

The unit will assist clients and families affected by mental health, substance abuse and trauma with ways of overcoming the problem.

The unit will also participate in the formulation of counselling policies, regulations and strategies in conformity with the NPS reform agenda and participate in the implementation, interpretation and review of counselling services, policies, procedures and systems.

Over the years, a spike in deaths in the service has been linked to trauma.

They include deaths by gun.

According to Kenyatta University research, the major factor contributing to suicide and murder among officers in Kenya is work-related trauma.

The study found that 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.

It said police officers are often in touch with extremely painful issues in the community such as murder and rape.

In 2019, the then Inspector General of police Hillary Mutyambai launched a new programme-Muamko Mpya (Healing the Uniform Initiative) to give psychological support to officers.

“The ultimate goal of the initiative is to provide officers with knowledge, tools and a framework to assist them to support each other while handling traumatic situations,” Mutyambai said.

“They encounter most of these situations on personal and professional levels.”

Edited by Kiilu Damaris