Homabay cop behind poisoning of his three children, suicide identified

The police officer who killed his three children before dying by suicide in his house in Rachuonyo, Homabay has been identified as.

The deceased officer was identified as constable David Okebe Goga of Marsabit police station.

The deceased children were a boy aged six, a girl aged five and the boy of his in-laws aged five.
He hanged himself in his house.

Police said he was on off duty and had traveled home for the mission

His wife was away at her rural home over alleged domestic quarrels when Goga poisoned the three children and died by suicide.

There was a tragedy in the village in Homabay when the police officer killed his three children before he died by suicide in his house.

The police officer was based in Marsabit and had passed by his home on Sunday April 6 when he committed the tragedy.

He left a suicide note explaining the motive. It also explained how his property should be divided, how he and the children should be buried and what to happen at the burial.

Police and neighbors said the children included his two and one who belongs to his in-law.

According to police, preliminary findings showed he fed them with poison.

He then took his own life by hanging himself in the house using a sisal rope at Kakdhimu East Location, Kawiti Sub Location, Kawarwai village of Rachuonyo West Sub Police said they are investigating the incident.

A somber mood engulfed the area when news of the incident spread attracting a crowd of locals.

The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures.

This is the latest suicide incident to involve a police officer.

Police say cases of suicide among police officers are on the rise amid efforts to address the trend.
Officials 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.

There are efforts being made to address the trend.