A police officer was hospitalised on the night of Saturday, April 11, after an alleged suicide attempt at Mirangine Police Station, Nyandarua County.
The officer identified as Constable George Iriko was on night duty at the station and excused himself to go eat dinner at his house, leaving a female colleague behind who soon heard gunshot sounds coming from Iriko's home.
He was found lying on the floor, unconscious and bleeding heavily, and was said to have shot himself through his chin. Six spent cartridges from his police service-assigned G3 rifle were also found at his home.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Sunday, April 12, Nyandarua Police boss Gideon Ngumi spoke on Iriko's condition in hospital, revealing that the officer was scheduled to undergo a surgery to remove the bullets lodged in his body.
"He is currently at Mediheal Hospital in Nakuru County where he is receiving treatment. He is supposed to undergo surgery today, but I know as of yesterday he was in stable condition," he disclosed.
On the circumstances around the alleged suicide, Ngumi maintained that an ongoing investigation would get to the bottom of the matter.
Senior police officers accompanied by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had earlier visited the scene and reportedly confirmed that the officer shot himself with the G3 rifle.
Made in Germany, the G3 is an automatic rifle meaning it is a type of self-loading rifle capable of automatic fire.
"I can assure you that there is an ongoing probe. The matter is under investigation," Ngumi asserted.
He had earlier told reporters that the female officer who was left manning the station rushed to Iriko's home after hearing the gunshots only to find him lying unconscious.
“The female officer heard the gunshots soon after the victim left...the gunshots were from the officer's house. She rushed to the scene where she found the said officer unconscious on the floor and bleeding heavily,” Ngumi stated.
The bullets reportedly went through the roof of Iriko's hut at the station.
According to his colleagues, Iriko had kept to himself in recent days and appeared a bit bothered, but remained jovial in short interactions with his colleagues.
