The National Police Service (NPS) is mourning the loss of two officers in separate incidents over the weekend, raising fresh concerns about mental health and well-being within the force.
In Kericho County, constable Paul Wagathari, 49, was found dead in a suspected suicide incident at Sossiot Police Station in Belgut. His colleagues discovered his body hanging from a shoelace tied to a window grill in the station’s radio room on Sunday morning.
According to reports, Wagathari, who had been newly transferred to the station, had earlier told colleagues that he was being pursued by unknown individuals from his house within the police lines. He spent the morning in the radio room with two other officers before they stepped out to hoist the national flag. Upon returning, they were shocked to find his lifeless body.
Police authorities have launched investigations into the motive behind the tragic incident. However, the case adds to the rising number of police suicides in Kenya, often linked to job-related stress, trauma, and mental health struggles. The NPS has been rolling out counselling programs to address the issue, with at least three officers reportedly dying by suicide every month.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Mombasa, Corporal Jesca Keter collapsed and died on Saturday outside Mbaraki Police Station. The mother of three had just returned her firearm to the station after providing security at Kizingo Seventh Day Adventist Church when she suddenly collapsed.
Colleagues rushed to assist her, but she was pronounced dead. The cause of her death remains unknown, pending an autopsy. Jesca had recently been promoted from police constable to corporal by Inspector General Douglas Kanja.
These incidents highlight the growing concerns surrounding the well-being of officers, who work in high-pressure environments while facing immense personal and professional challenges. As cases of stress-related deaths continue to rise, the need for mental health support in the police force has never been more urgent.
