A police officer was found dead in his house after he had died by suicide in Kangondi village, Kitui County.
Police said constable Dennis Nzau Ndav, 40 was found hanging on a truss in his house with a rope tied around his neck after the incident.
The incident happened on Sunday January 18, 2026, police said.
His wife said she had been trying to reach him in vain. This was after he wrote a suicidal message to her. He then hanged himself. The wife called Ndav’s colleagues and informed them of the same. The colleagues went to his house at the Kangondi police lines where they found the body hanging on a rope.
Police said they were investigating the incident.
This is the latest such incident to happen in the service amid a rise of the trend.
It could be linked to trauma which is on the rise in the service at large.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of deaths in the service.
Authorities police are exposed to many forms of trauma that lead some to suicide in a worrying trend.
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, among other things, evaluates, designs and leads an outreach programme that helps prevent mental health and substance abuse.
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.
The World Health Organisation says such cases are also attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, legal difficulties and financial difficulties.
Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder.
The government says efforts are being made to address the menace.
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