Questions as Missing Police Officer Found Dead at his Home

The National Police Service (NPS) has suffered another tragic loss after a police officer attached to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was found dead in his house in Embakasi after going missing for two days.

According to a police report obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at the JKIA police post on Tuesday reported that the police officer aged 35 had not reported to work for two days.

The OCS, concerned about his junior sent a police officer to go check on his colleague at his his house located near Trace Hotel  in Embakasi. Upon getting to the home, the law enforcement officer found the residence locked.

The next course of action was peeping through the window, and it was at this juncture that he saw his colleague lying on the bed unresponsive. 

Kenyan Police Vehicle.

Photo

HILARY KIMUYU

The officer subsequently contacted his colleagues from Embakasi who gained access to the home by cutting the window grill. 

“The officer was found lying dead on his bed in a supine position with no visible injuries,” the police report read leading to even more questions on the circumstances leading to the officer’s death.

According to the report, the scene was processed by officers from Embakasi. The deceased officer’s body was later moved to a funeral home along Mbagathi Road awaiting an autopsy on what could have caused the officer’s death.

Recently, cases of police officers being found dead have been on the rise across the country. Dozens of police officers have died by suicide or killed in mysterious circumstances.

With a substantial number of these cases linked to stress levels at work, the National Police Service (NPS) has launched counseling services and sensitized officers on the importance of speaking out on mental health.

The NPS has established a counselling unit under the command of the Inspector General and staffed it to facilitate real time access to counselling services to police officers.

The counseling unit at the NPS aims at evaluating, designing, and leading an outreach program that helps prevent mental health and substance abuse.

Counselling sessions provide officers with valuable guidance on stress management, positive coping methods, and personal development. These critical interventions are designed to equip officers with the tools necessary to manage the demands and challenges of their roles effectively.

According to the National Service Commission, at least three police officers commit suicide every month, a statistic that authorities are keen to act on.

Counsellors, medics, and psychologists recommend seeking help whenever you experience any mental health issue. Call the Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.

Karen Police officers during a free counseling session organized by the National Police Service Commission, June 2024.

Photo

NPSC