A police officer was Sunday arrested minutes after he had shot and killed his colleague in Awendo Sub County, Migori.
The assailant officer is attached to the Awendo police station. He allegedly killed his colleague working with the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit armory area.
Police said the suspect allegedly shot dead his colleague Elijah Anyira using an AK-47 at around 6 am on February 19, 2023.
Suna East sub-county police commander Hesau Ochorokodi said the suspect was returning his firearm to the armory after a night duty when he pulled the trigger on his colleague.
Ochorokodi said the bullet entered through the right side of the chest and exited through the left rib.
He said the officer was rushed to Rapcom hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.
He said the motive of the killing has not been established, adding that investigations are underway.
The police boss said they had heard the assailant planned to die by suicide over unknown reasons.
After the shooting, he left his weapon at the station and walked to his house where he was arrested minutes later.
The killer weapon with 27 bullets was recovered at the scene of the shooting.
Dozens of police officers have died through gun violence including suicide.
As part of efforts to address the trend, police authorities have launched counselling services. The National Police Service Commission has established a unit and staffed it to attend to their demanding situation.
Inspector General of police Japhet Koome also created a welfare directorate to focus on the issue among others.
The counselling unit will, among other things, evaluate, design and lead an outreach programme that helps prevent mental health and substance abuse.
At least three suicide cases involving police officers are recorded every month.
Further, it will assist clients and families affected by mental health, substance abuse and trauma to overcome the problem.
The unit will also participate in the formulation of counselling policies, regulations and strategies in conformity with the NPS reform agenda and participate in the implementation, interpretation and review of counselling services, policies, procedures and systems.
Over the years, a spike in deaths in the service has been linked to trauma.
They include deaths by gun.
According to Kenyatta University research, the major factor contributing to suicide and murder among officers in Kenya is work-related trauma.
The study found that police are generally on the receiving end of all community problems.
They are expected to maintain law and order in very difficult situations, besides putting their lives at risk.
It further emphasised that police officers are often in touch with extremely painful issues in the community such as murder and rape.
In 2019, police launched a new programme - Muamko Mpya (Healing the Uniform Initiative) – to give psychological support to officers.
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