UPDATE: Deputy President William Ruto mourned the death of the police commissioner. "Commissioner of Police Wachira Mathenge was a dedicated and exceptional officer whose bravery in the line of duty was supreme.
"He was dependable, approachable, took pride in his work and endeavoured to put things right.
"Our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to Mathenge’s family, friends and the wider Police fraternity. Rest In Peace," he posted on Twitter.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is in mourning following the death of one of his former aides at State House.
A former presidential escort officer told Kenyans.co.ke that Patrick Wachira Mathenge who served in the presidential escort died on Thursday, June 4.
At the time of death, he was serving as the commissioner of police in charge of staffing and logistics in Eastern Region based at Embu headquarters after leaving State House in 2016.
“Wachira had called me on Thursday and was excited about this being his last month of service in the police force since he was due to retire,” his former colleague spoke on the phone.
Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi eulogised the deceased as a “true friend who served the nation with dedication.”
“When I started working at State House in 2013, you guided me and acted as my personal guide. When I left, you called to encourage me and offer even more words of wisdom. Kenya lost a good police officer and a good man too,” he mourned.
According to a police report seen by Kenyans.co.ke, his wife Jane Wanja, stated that the officer collapsed inside his house in Chaka, Nyeri County and was rushed to Outspan Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11.30 pm.
The cause of death was not immediately established but it is highly suspected that he suffered a heart attack since he had not complained of any illness before collapsing.
The body of the deceased police officer was transferred to Outspan Hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem.
“The deceased police officer was currently on terminal leave and was due to exit the service on July 1" reads the police report.
A team of officers led by Kieni East Sub-county Police Commander Sicharani Wilberforce visited the deceased’s home and confirmed the incident.
A pistol firearm make; Austria serial number RLU 884 and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from his house and being held at Naru Moru Police Station for safe custody.
