A police officer attached to Kipkaren River Police Station in Uasin Gishu County on Wednesday fatally shot himself inside the station, while clocking out of work.
According to a police report, the officer had requested permission from the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) to proceed to Eldoret Township to attend to his private affairs.
The police boss granted the request but the officer had to first check out and hand over his firearm before proceeding to run his errands.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the officer proceeded to the Armoury and began disassembling the firearm in a hurry.
After removing the magazine with one round of ammunition in the chamber, the officer accidentally tapped the trigger which eventually discharged the fatal shot.
The bullet pierced through his lower jaw and exited through the upper part of the back of his head.
Following the gunshot, the OCS Kipkaren and his deputy rushed to the scene and found the corporal already lying in the pool of blood at the police station's Armoury area.
The Sub-County Police Commander in Turbo, accompanied by the Deputy Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) and Crime Scene Investigations Officers processed and documented the scene.
"The body was removed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret hospital morgue awaiting autopsy," read part of the report.
The incident is part of multiple cases involving officers who have unintentionally discharged their firearms, resulting in self-inflicted injuries.
Recently, a Kilimani-based police officer accidentally shot himself in the index toe of his right leg during patrol.
Following the incident, the officer was rushed to hospital for medical treatment.
