A bodyguard attached to Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu was found dead in a suspected suicide incident in Nanyuki Town. Constable Chrispine Ochieng, who had been serving as the governor’s security detail since September 2022, allegedly took his own life on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 29.
According to police reports, Ochieng is believed to have used his personal Ceska pistol to shoot himself through the mouth, with the bullet exiting through the back of his head. His lifeless body was discovered on a chair at the rooftop of his rental apartment, with blood visibly oozing from his mouth and nose.
Police officers who responded to the scene recovered a Ceska pistol with 12 rounds, three spent cartridges, and a ricochet bullet head from the floor. Laikipia East police boss John Tarus confirmed the incident, which occurred at approximately 3 p.m. The motive behind the suspected suicide remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing.
Ochieng, who lived alone in Nanyuki, had a wife and a three-month-old baby back at his rural home in Nyanza. Reports indicate that he had taken a boda boda ride from Nanyuki town to his apartment, a distance of about three kilometers. The rider, whom Ochieng had instructed to wait for him, reported hearing a gunshot moments later, prompting him to alert authorities.
Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after and moved the body to the mortuary for an autopsy and further investigations.
A Growing Concern in the Police Service
This incident adds to the rising cases of suicides within the Kenyan police service. Statistics indicate that at least three police officers die by suicide every month. Mental health experts and officials attribute this worrying trend to high levels of trauma, work-related stress, and the demanding nature of policing.
Police officers are often at the forefront of maintaining law and order, sometimes in extremely challenging environments. Many face long working hours, exposure to violence, and immense pressure, leading to emotional and psychological distress.
Authorities have urged officers experiencing mental health struggles to seek professional help or talk to colleagues, friends, or family members. Efforts to introduce mental health support systems within the police force continue to gain traction, with the government and non-governmental organizations advocating for increased awareness and interventions.
As investigations continue into Ochieng’s death, his passing serves as a tragic reminder of the urgent need to address mental health challenges within the police service.
