A 30-year-old police officer attached to the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) was found dead in what police are treating as an apparent case of suicide at his residential quarters in Juja Sub-County, Kiambu County.
The deceased was identified as Police Constable Dennis Kibet Cheruiyot, whose body was found inside his house within the PEU residential lines.
His body was discovered on Wednesday morning with a gunshot wound to the chin, which preliminary police investigations indicate is believed to have been self-inflicted.
Senior police commanders responded to the scene, where forensic investigators processed the area and recovered the deceased’s service Jericho pistol loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition.
Detectives also recovered a three-page handwritten note from a table inside the house. According to preliminary findings, the note outlined the officer’s personal struggles and contained what appeared to be his final wishes.
Authorities have not disclosed the contents of the note as investigations continue.
After documenting and processing the scene, forensic officers moved the body to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
The incident is the latest in a series of deaths involving police officers that authorities are investigating as suspected suicides.
On Tuesday, another police officer, a woman based in Kisii County, was found dead in an incident that police are also treating as a suspected suicide.
The deceased, identified as Corporal Marjorie Bosibori, 42, a police signaller attached to the sub-county radio room, was found at about 8.00 am inside the radio room office by a fellow officer who had gone to open the facility.
Police said she was found seated and unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the chest.
An AK-47 rifle was found lying beside her body.
Police officers who visited the scene said preliminary findings indicated that the officer had allegedly locked herself inside the office before sustaining a fatal gunshot wound from the rifle that had been issued to her for security duties.
According to preliminary investigations, Corporal Bosibori had collected the AK-47 rifle from the Kisii Central Police Station armoury at about 6.00 pm on Monday before proceeding to provide security at a supermarket in Kisii Town.
Crime scene investigators recovered the AK-47 rifle, one spent 7.62×39mm cartridge, a magazine loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, the office padlock key, assorted medication and three mobile phones.
Police said no suicide note was recovered during a search of her clothing.
She was still dressed in full police jungle uniform when her body was found.
The body was moved to the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted as investigations continue.
The circumstances surrounding the suspected suicide have not yet been established.
The latest incidents come amid concerns over a rise in suspected suicide cases within the police service despite ongoing efforts to address the trend.
Authorities say police officers are routinely exposed to different forms of trauma, which mental health experts have linked to psychological distress among some officers.
As part of efforts to address the challenge, police authorities have rolled out counselling services, while the National Police Service Commission has established and staffed a specialised unit to support officers facing mental health and other psychosocial challenges.
The counselling unit, among other responsibilities, assesses officers’ needs, designs intervention programmes and leads outreach initiatives aimed at preventing mental health challenges and substance abuse.
