Police in Tharaka Nithi have launched investigations after a senior cop was found dead in his rented apartment in Chogoria on Tuesday, September 27.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Simon Chege, who was attached to Chogoria Police station, took his own life in unclear circumstances.
Police confirm
According to the County Police Commander Donatha Kiplagat, the officer, who was in charge of crime at the station, ended his life in the wee hours of Tuesday morning by hanging himself.
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No suicide note was recovered from the scene to shed light on why the officer took his life.
“We are investigating the reason as to why he decided to commit suicide. An inquest file has been opened and the matter is now being handled by the DCI”, the police boss said.
According to Robert Gitari, the landlord of the apartment where the officer was staying, two officers had visited Chege after he was involved in an accident. They also brought him breakfast.
The deceased had been involved in an accident the previous day and had been discharged from PCEA Chogoria hospital.
The cops' efforts to access the colleague's house were futile as their calls went unanswered. The officer didn't also respond to several knocks on his door.
Concerned, the police officers then requested a knife to cut a wire that had been used to fasten the window.
Upon opening the window, the officers discovered the deceased's lifeless body hanging from the roof with a shirt and rope on his neck.
The door was locked from the inside with a padlock.
Francis Mwangi, a neighbour, said he left for work and heard Chege in his usual activities in his house that morning and would later be informed of the unfortunate incident.
Mwangi and the landlord described Chege as a kind and high-spirited officer, who did not show any signs of stress or depression.
Kiplagat urged officers not to shy away from discussing their problems with friends and colleagues and seek guidance and counselling on matters affecting their emotional and physcological well-being.
“I would like to urge officers to understand that police work in its nature is very stressful. I urge them not to result to taking their life but try and share problems, seek guidance and counselling to matters affecting them”, the officer added.
The body of the deceased was moved to Chogoria PCEA Hospital mortuary pending autopsy.
The incident is the third suicide case to be reported in the county in the last four days.
On Monday, September 26, a woman hacked her husband to death before taking her own life after a domestic quarrel.
A day before that, a 42-year-old man was found dead in his house, after hanging himself over claims that his wife was cheating on him.
