New details have emerged of Corporal Linus Mutunga, a 59-year-old detective attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who died by suicide after shooting himself at the agency's headquarters along Kiambu Road on Wednesday.
According to reports, the officer, a driver attached to the DCI operations department, was set to retire at the end of the year.
The officer is said to have left the office in the morning hours after reporting for duty and walked to the car park casually, not showing any signs of distress.
The officer parked his car at the carwash next to the forensic lab gate at the DCI headquarters.
He locked the car before shooting himself in the head.
People close by and around the DCI headquarters were alerted by the sound of a gunshot at the Operations Section.
They rushed to the scene and found Mutunga's lifeless body inside the car.
He did not leave behind any notes and had not spoken to anyone about the circumstances that pushed him to end his own life.
The motive still remains unclear but the detectives have commenced investigations into the matter.
DCI detectives are trying to establish whether his duties at the Operations Section were linked to his death.
Cases of suicide has been on the rise within security forces, indicating the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in high demanding environments.
The latest data from the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) shows that one out of every ten police officers experiences mental health issues.
This means that at least 12,000 officers struggle with mental health challenges as a result of work-related issues. Other factors that lead to the rise of suicide cases include high cost of living and family-related issues.
The police service has since setup communication channels to allow officers to air their grievances. Additionally, senior officers are undergoing the training to assist their junior officers in the workplace cope with the day-to-day challenges.
Counselors, medics, and psychologists recommend seeking help whenever you experience any mental health issue. Call the Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.
