- He went to the toilet where he set his weapon to discharge a burst of bullets and directed the same on his chin.
- Four spent bullets were found at the scene where the body lay in a pool of blood in the Monday March 11 morning incident.
A junior traffic police officer died by suicide after he shot himself in a toilet at the Turbi police station, Marsabit County.
Constable Victor Kipngeno had been on duty at the Turbi Roadblock along the busy Marsabit-Moyale highway when he excused himself and left for the station, which is 50 metres away.
He was then armed with an AK47 rifle, which he used to shoot his head.
According to police, Kipngeno had not complained of any challenges and they are yet to establish the motive of his actions.
He went to the toilet where he set his weapon to discharge a burst of bullets and directed the same on his chin.
Four spent bullets were found at the scene where the body lay in a pool of blood in the Monday, March 11 morning incident.
His colleagues at the station heard the gunshots and went to check only to find the body lying with the weapon beside it.
Police said four holes were visible on the roof of the toilet.
His colleagues said he was jovial in the morning when he reported to work.
The incident is under probe as the body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy.
Such incidents of death by gun are on the rise in the service, according to police reports.
The incidents are linked to trauma-related by police officers, which are on the rise.
Many say this is linked to their stress. Dozens of police officers have died as a result of suicide or killed many in a trend that is attributed to stress at work.
As part of efforts to address the trend, police authorities have launched counselling services and 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 every month.
Officials say 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. Over the years, a spike in deaths in the service has been linked to trauma.