Police officer dies by suicide in Kisumu

A police officer was found dead in a suspected suicide incident in Kisumu county.

He was attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations office in Kisumu, authorities said.

The body of Constable Wycliffe Ontweka was found hanging on a rail of the house stairs with a belt tied around his neck.

The motive of the incident was not immediately known. Police said the incident happened at the Nyalenda police lines and was detected by his neighbours on March 30.

Ontweke lived alone and his colleagues said he had not shown any signs of stress even as they described him as a hardworking officer.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending postmortem.

This is the latest such incident to happen in the police service.

Dozens of police officers die by suicide in a worrying trend.

Police said the trend could be linked to trauma which is on the rise in the service.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of deaths in the service.

Authorities say police are exposed to many forms of trauma that lead some to suicide.

As part of efforts to address the trend, police authorities have launched counselling services, and the National Police Service Commission has established a unit and staffed it to attend to their demanding situation.

The counselling unit, among other things, evaluates, designs and leads an outreach programme that helps prevent mental health and substance abuse.

Officials say 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.

Over the years, a spike in deaths in the service has been linked to trauma.The World Health Organisation says such cases are also attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, legal difficulties and financial difficulties.

Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder.The government says efforts are being made to address the menace.

These include constant counselling and provision of resources to enhance their work.

Authorities have been encouraging struggling officers to speak out as part of efforts to address the menace.