A police constable was found dead after shooting himself in the head with his service rifle in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County.
The officer, identified as Constable Daniel Okoth, is said to have died by suicide in his house on Friday night, September 12, 2025. Police said he was alone at the time of the incident.
According to a report, Okoth had been issued an AK-47 rifle for night duty at around 7 pm. However, instead of heading to his assignment, he returned home, placed the gun under his chin, and pulled the trigger.
Neighbours told police they heard a gunshot and rushed to the house, which was partially open. Inside, they found the officer’s body lying in a pool of blood with his rifle next to him. The weapon still had 29 rounds of ammunition.
His body was moved to the mortuary pending a post-mortem examination as investigations continue. Police said the motive behind the suicide remains unclear.
The case adds to a growing number of suicides within the police service. Just last Sunday, Constable Francis Mutua, attached to KBC Police Station in Matungulu, Machakos County, died after ingesting a pesticide at his home in Mavoko.
Mutua’s wife told police he had complained of financial difficulties before the incident. He later went to the kitchen, returned with a cup, and swallowed the chemical in their bedroom. Despite efforts to save him, he died at the scene.
The rise in such cases has raised concern within the service. The National Police Service Commission has established a counselling unit to address officers’ mental health and substance abuse challenges. The unit runs outreach programmes to support officers coping with stress and trauma.
Experts say police officers often face extreme pressures, from maintaining law and order to dealing with violence and community disputes, sometimes at the risk of their own lives.
The World Health Organization links suicide to multiple risk factors, including financial strain, family history, depression, and substance misuse.
Authorities have urged officers to seek help early as part of efforts to curb the worrying trend
