Policeman found with bullet wounds after suspected attempted suicide in Nandi

Police are investigating an incident where a senior officer was found with a bullet wound in his house.

The incident involved the Chepkunyuk Police Post boss on September 18.

Neighbours said they heard a gunshot and when they went to check, they found him with a wound in the cheek.

It was established that there was a pool of blood on the floor of his bedroom.

A G3 rifle loaded with a magazine of 19 rounds and five expended cartridges were found in the house.

The iron sheet roof had some holes suspected to have been caused by the fired bullets.

Personal items in the house were found to be intact, police said. The injured officer was transferred to MTRH Eldoret for specialised treatment.

The motive of the shooting has not yet established, police said.

Police suspect the man was attempting suicide. Such cases have been on the rise in the service amid efforts to address the trend.

The police have launched a special unit to focus on mental health in the service at large, which is said to be the leading cause of such incidents.

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.

In another incident, police in Garissa Subcounty recovered an AK-47 rifle, five magazines, one magazine pouch, and 128 rounds of ammunition following a shootout with armed bandits in the Dumpsite area of Garissa Town.

The operation was sparked by public reports of gunfire, which prompted officers on patrol to respond swiftly, police said.

In the ensuing exchange, one suspect was subdued and arrested after sustaining a gunshot wound. He was rushed to Garissa County Referral Hospital and admitted in a fair condition.

Police are in hot pursuit of the remaining bandits, who are now on the run, police said of the Thursday, September 18, 2025 incident.

The suspect is in hospital under police watch to recover and be interrogated, police said.