GSU officer dies by suicide at camp in Mandera
FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE
A police officer attached to the General Service Unit was found dead after he had died by suicide at a camp in Kutulo, Mandera County.
Constable Nicholas Omwega used his G3 rifle to blow up his head at the GSU Duce Camp on Thursday January 29, 2026.
His colleagues said they heard one gunshot from the camp and on checking, they found his body lying in a pool of blood. The bullet had ripped off the head after he shot it from the chin.
The weapon was found lying next to the body with 19 bullets.
The motive of the suicide was not immediately established. His colleagues described him as a hard working officer adding he had not shown any signs of depression.
The body was moved to the local mortuary ahead of planned airlift to Nairobi for other plans, officials said.
This is the latest such incident to happen and affect police in general. Dozens of police officers die by suicide in a worrying trend.
Police said the trend 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 say 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.