A Kericho County based police officer took his own life at the Sosiot Police Station located in Belgut Sub-County on March 16, 2025.
According to a police report seen by Nairobi Post, the officer had displayed signs of being disturbed when he arrived at the police station and accompanied some of his colleagues for a while before they left him to go and hoist the flag.
Corporal Ciuga Chege, the deputy officer, reported that at around 1am, the deceased, Paul Wagathari, arrived at the police station claiming he was being chased by unknown people from his house. He then spent the night at the radio room with office personnel.
“At around 5:50am when the two officers manning report office and cell sentry went to hoist the flag, on return they found Paul Wagathari (deceased) had committed suicide at radio room window grill by use of a shoe lace. The scene, visited by County Police Commander, DSPC Kericho East, DCI detectives and OCS Sosiot Police Station. There were no other visible marks on his body and no suicide note seen,” read the police report.
The body was moved to the Siloam Level 5 hospital mortuary and is awaiting autopsy.
The mental health of Kenyan police officers has become a growing concern as cases of suicide within the force continue to rise. Long working hours, poor pay, traumatic experiences and a lack of psychosocial support have created a toxic environment where officers struggle with unaddressed mental health and social issues. Many officers face constant stress from dealing with crime, violence and public pressure, yet the stigma surrounding mental health prevents them from seeking help. The lack of proper counseling services and an inadequate support system within the National Police Service (NPS) further worsens the situation, leaving many officers to suffer in silence.
Reports indicate that police officers are increasingly taking their own lives, with some incidents involving the use of their service firearms. Workplace bullying, harsh disciplinary measures, and strained personal relationships and lives add to their mental distress. While efforts have been made to introduce counseling units and wellness programs, they remain underfunded and poorly implemented. Without immediate intervention, the trend of police suicides is likely to continue, posing a threat not only to the officers themselves but also to public safety.
