KWS ranger shoots and kills a police officer before dying by suicide over a Christmas goat in Kinango, Kwale County

FILE IMAGE OF POLICE LINE

A ranger with the Kenya Wildlife Service shot and killed a police officer before he died by suicide in an argument over a gift of a goat for Christmas in a village in Kinango, Kwale County.

The ranger also shot and wounded another police officer and bodaboda rider in the altercation in Virungani area in the January 14, 2026 tragedy.

The slain officer was identified as Constable Stanley Karithi who was attached to Kilibasi police post.
He and his colleague were riding on a motorcycle along Nyango-Kilibasi road when they met the assailant also in the company of another ranger on a motorcycle.

According to the police, the incident happened at about 2 pm. At the scene, the police officers had stopped a rider who was carrying sacks of charcoal for questioning.

It was then the slain and assailant ranger identified as John Ndichu and his colleague also pulled there. The rangers were attached to the Kilibasi KWS camp.

The two rangers and the police knew each others well, police said.

It was then that Karithi asked Ndichu about two goats they were told had been donated by a rancher in the area for Christmas celebrations.

He and other officers in the area believed the two goats had been dinged and it was Ndichu who collected them but did not hand over to the police as instructed.

Witnesses said this angered Ndichu as he denied he had picked up the goats.

He picked up his AK47 rifle and started to fire at the officers. Police said he shot Karithi four times in the chest killing him.

He then shot his police colleague in the ribs leaving him with life threatening injuries.

Police said he also shot the rider in the ribs leaving him with serious injuries.

He then turned the gun on himself and burst his head. Police said he used six bullets on his chin bursting his head. He died on the spot.

The injured were rushed to the hospital in a serious but stable condition, police said adding his colleague escaped unhurt and shaken.

He was armed but did not fire any bullets. Both weapons were picked up by police for ballistic analysis.

That of the deceased ranger had two magazines with 49 bullets while that of then other ranger had three magazines with 90 bullets.

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

Police said the injured were in a stable condition.

Like police and other members of the disciplined forces, KWS rangers are going through trauma.
Dozens of rangers and police have died as a result of suicide in a trend that is attributed to stress at work.

Officials say they 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 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.