Police Officer Stationed at JKIA Hangs Himself

A police officer stationed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has committed suicide under unclear circumstances.

Constable Donfan Wanyaga took his life by hanging himself at his home in Kagio, Kirinyaga County on Tuesday.

Confirming the incident, Mwea West sub-county police commander Stephen Okal said the deceased’s body was found dangling in his house. 

Eliud Gachoki, a teacher at a nearby school said Wanyaga was very friendly prior to committing suicide.

“His wife called us saying her husband wanted to commit suicide unfortunately he killed himself before we arrived,” Gachoki said.

The officer, who is survived by his widow and their two kids, left a suicide note asking his wife to give out his phone to his son. His body was moved to Kibugi Funeral home pending a postmortem examination.

The incident comes days after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raised alarm over the high number of suicides in the country, with data showing that at least 483 Kenyans took their own life between March and June this year, with Kiambu County recording the highest number.

DCI Director George Kinoti urged the government to commission research to establish the cause of the worrying trend. “We have never recorded such a high number of suicides before and this is not only alarming but calls for urgent remedial measures,” said Kinoti.

The report compiled by the Department of Operations at DCI named Central Kenya as the leading region in the number of suicides. 181 suicide cases were reported in the region during the period, with Kiambu County accounting for 109 of the cases.