KIAMBU, Kenya — A police officer attached to the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) has been found dead at his residential quarters in Juja Sub-County, Kiambu County, in what police are investigating as an apparent suicide.
The deceased was identified as Police Constable Dennis Kibet Cheruiyot, 30, whose body was discovered on Wednesday morning inside his house within the Presidential Escort Unit residential lines.
Police said the officer sustained a gunshot wound to the chin, with preliminary investigations indicating that the injury is believed to have been self-inflicted.
Senior police commanders and forensic investigators responded to the scene, where they recovered the officer’s issued Jericho pistol loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition.
Detectives also recovered a three-page handwritten note from a table inside the house. According to police, the note outlined the officer’s personal struggles and contained what appeared to be his final wishes. Authorities have not disclosed its contents as investigations continue.
After documenting and processing the scene, the body was transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
The incident comes barely a day after another police officer was found dead in Kisii County in a separate incident that investigators are also treating as a suspected suicide.
The officer, identified as Corporal Marjorie Bosibori, 42, a police signaller attached to the sub-county radio room, was found unresponsive inside the radio room office at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday by a colleague who had gone to open the facility.
Police said she had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, while an AK-47 rifle issued to her for official duties was recovered beside her body.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Corporal Bosibori had allegedly locked herself inside the office before sustaining the fatal gunshot wound. Crime scene investigators recovered the rifle, one spent 7.62×39mm cartridge, a magazine loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, the office padlock key, assorted medication and three mobile phones.
Police said no suicide note was recovered at the scene. Her body was moved to the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination as investigations continue.
The two incidents have renewed concern over the rising number of suspected suicides involving police officers despite ongoing mental health interventions within the National Police Service.
Authorities say police officers are routinely exposed to traumatic incidents and demanding working conditions that can contribute to psychological distress.
To address the challenge, the National Police Service has expanded counselling services, while the National Police Service Commission has established a specialised psychosocial support unit to provide mental health care, counselling, outreach programmes and interventions aimed at preventing mental health challenges and substance abuse among officers.
Investigations into both deaths are ongoing.
