A police officer was dramatically disarmed and arrested after he shot to the air eight times at a market in Gaitu, Meru County.
He was armed with his official AK47 rifle when he suddenly opened fire to the air on Friday unprovoked.
Witnesses said he initially claimed his mobile phone had been stolen while he was at a bar. He was then in official uniforms and armed at Kaguma Market, police and witnesses said.
Police said he was supposed to be on patrol duties in the area but did not show up. It was until when the gunshots were heard in the area prompting a response by the police.
The responding team found their colleague in the bar and disarmed him before detaining him.
His rifle had 22 bullets at the time he was disarmed, police said adding no injuries were reported.
Police said he would be subjected to various disciplinary measures.
Other colleagues suspect the incident is linked to the rising cases of trauma in the service.
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.
Some of the police officers resort to suicide.
On September 10, 2025, the National Police Service joined key stakeholders and partners to mark World Suicide Prevention Day at the Cooperative University of Kenya in Nairobi.
The purpose of the day is to raise global awareness that suicide can be prevented.
The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, was represented by the Director of Counselling and Psychosocial Support at the Kenya Police Service (KPS) Headquarters, Evelyn Mbugua.
Kanja called for urgent need to confront suicide as a national concern.
Kanja emphasised the National Police Service’s deliberate steps to strengthen mental health systems for officers and their families.
“These efforts include establishing counselling offices, chaplaincy services, psychosocial deployment, and forming partnerships with institutions such as Africa International University and DMF-Kenya,” he said.
He called for the need to break the silence and end the stigma surrounding mental health, to strengthen access to counselling and psychosocial support and to build strong partnerships across society to save lives.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
