A police officer was rushed to hospital in serious condition after he attempted to die by suicide at the Marigat Deputy County Commissioner’s office, Baringo County.
The constable of police was on night duty at the office when he used his G3 rifle to shoot himself in the chin on Thursday April 3 in the morning.
His colleagues said they heard a gunshot from the DCC offices and on checking they found the officer about 70 meters from the station in uniform walking with a big wound on his chin.
Police said the victim had a gun shot entering from his lower side of the chin through the mouth injuring his lower jaw which appears to be attempted suicide.
It was established that the officer was on night guard duties at the Marigat DCC’s office and had been issued with a G3 rifle, which he had been found without.
A search was conducted and the G3 rifle was recovered behind the NG-CDF offices building about 100 metres from the DCC’s office with an empty magazine.
One spent cartridge was recovered about one meter from the rifle and 12 others of the same caliber outside the office of National Disaster Management Authority within the DCC’s office building.
Other officers who had been deployed with the officer on guard duties states that the officer was restless throughout the night and moments before he began shooting he had mentioned to that that he was hearing some people moving within the office compound.
The officer was referred to Baringo County Referral Hospital for surgery in stable condition.
This is the latest such incident involving police. Police say cases of suicide among police officers are on the rise amid efforts to address the trend.
Many say this is linked to their stress. Dozens of police officers have died as a result of suicide or were 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. They include deaths by gun
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
