Senior police officer attempts suicide after losing pistol in Nairobi

A senior police officer is fighting for his life in hospital after he attempted to die by suicide in his
Ongata Rongai home.

The inspector of police who is in charge of a police post in Kariobangi had informed his wife on
Sunday, June 16 morning that he had lost his official Ceska pistol loaded with 15 bullets.
His wife told police the officer looked stressed when he arrived home and that he could not recall
how he lost his weapon.
The officer then reportedly excused himself and went to the family washing area where he
swallowed poison.

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The family found him struggling after swallowing the poison and rushed him to hospital where
he was admitted in stable condition.
It was then police were mobilized and told to search for the weapon. It has not been recovered,
police said on Tuesday.
Police said they are revisiting places where the officer visited in the past hours leading to his
attempted suicide.
The incident could be linked to trauma, which is on the rise among many police officers.
Dozens of police officers have died as a result of suicide or 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 program
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.

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The World Health Organization 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.