Nyamira police dies after shooting himself as Homa Bay officer injured in dog attack

Crime scene

A police officer in Nyamira County has died by suicide after shooting himself in the head, marking yet another tragedy in a worrying rise in similar cases within the National Police Service.

The incident happened on the night of Saturday, July 26, at Embonga Police Post.

Officers at the station reported hearing two gunshots and rushed to trace the source.

They were led to the station’s armory, where they discovered the body of Corporal John Owili, who was in charge of the post.

Owili had taken his own life using his G3 service rifle, which was found next to his body.

He was alone in the armory at the time.

According to police at the scene, he placed the barrel of the rifle in his mouth before pulling the trigger. Two spent cartridges and the rifle with 18 remaining bullets were recovered at the site.

The officer’s body was moved to the mortuary for an autopsy as investigations continue. The motive behind the suicide remains unclear.

Corporal Owili’s death is the third such case in a week involving police officers, pointing to a deeper mental health crisis within the service.

Authorities say the job’s demands—long hours, dangerous assignments, and constant exposure to traumatic events—take a heavy toll on officers.

In response to the growing mental health concerns, the National Police Service Commission has stepped up efforts to offer psychosocial support.

A dedicated counselling unit has been established to provide mental health assessments and design outreach programs aimed at preventing trauma-related incidents and substance abuse among officers.

"Police officers are often the first responders to society’s most challenging situations," an official noted.

"They carry a heavy emotional burden, and without help, it becomes overwhelming."

In a separate incident in Homa Bay County, a policewoman was seriously injured after being attacked by dogs at a construction site in Got Oyaro village, Rachuonyo.

The officer was in the company of a colleague near Nyangwete trading centre when they encountered two German Shepherd dogs roaming freely outside a Chinese construction site on Friday night.

The dogs charged at the officers, and one bit the policewoman on her left knee before being fought off.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital, treated for the bite, and given an anti-rabies injection before being discharged.

Police say they are now looking for the owners of the dogs for questioning and possible legal action.

Both incidents highlight the risks police officers face not only in the line of duty but also from less expected sources—and underscore the urgent need for mental health and safety reforms within the force.