A junior officer attached to the General Service Unit (GSU) was found dead in what authorities have confirmed as a suicide at the GSU Duce Camp in Kutulo, Mandera County.
Police identified the officer as Constable Nicholas Omwega.
According to authorities, he reportedly used his service rifle in the incident on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Colleagues at the camp said they heard a single gunshot and, upon checking, found Constable Omwega deceased.
The firearm, loaded with 19 bullets, was discovered next to his body. Officials have not disclosed the circumstances further.
The motive for the suicide has not been established. Fellow officers said Constable Omwega had not shown any visible signs of depression.
His body was transferred to the local mortuary ahead of plans to airlift it to Nairobi.
Suicide among police officers has been described by authorities as a growing concern.
Dozens of officers die by suicide annually, a trend linked to the high levels of trauma experienced in service.
To address the issue, police authorities have established counselling services, and the National Police Service Commission has created a dedicated unit to support officers.
The unit evaluates needs, designs outreach programs, and works to prevent mental health issues and substance abuse among personnel.
Officials note that police officers frequently face challenging situations while maintaining law and order, putting their lives at risk and often experiencing trauma as a result.
Over the years, such trauma has been linked to an increase in deaths among service members.
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