Homa Bay Police Officer Commits Suicide After Poisoning Children and Nephew

A police officer in Homa Bay County has allegedly taken his own life after poisoning his two children and nephew. 

The incident occurred in Kagoga village, sending shockwaves through the local community and raising concerns about mental health support for law enforcement officers. Police Constable David Okebe Goga, who had been on leave for three weeks, is believed to have orchestrated the deaths of his children, Triza and Hazad, aged between five and seven years, as well as his nephew, Seth Odeka. The lifeless bodies were discovered in separate areas of Goga’s home. 

Triza and Hazad were found on a bed in the bedroom, while Seth was seated in a chair in the living room. Detectives at the scene noted the presence of foam at the children’s mouths, indicating poisoning. Bottles of soda and pieces of bread were recovered, suspected to contain the lethal substance.
Investigators piecing together the events leading up to the tragedy have uncovered a series of suicide notes left behind by Goga. The notes, addressed to his family, in-laws, and colleagues, detailed a confluence of personal and professional struggles that appeared to have driven him to the brink. 

Goga revealed that he had been experiencing mounting pressure from both his work environment and personal life. According to the notes, his wife had left their matrimonial home in February, relocating to Sori with their children. Goga convinced her to allow the children to return to Kagoga for their education after returning from duty in Marsabit. The officer also expressed deep frustration over his work environment, alleging he had been subjected to unfair treatment by his superiors. 

Goga claimed he had been expected to resume duty by April 1 but had failed to report back, citing workplace intimidation and unequal treatment among officers. He described alleged threats from one of his supervisors and implied that he had, at one point, contemplated harming this superior but later reconsidered, stating that the officer’s family needed him alive. In his notes, Goga apologized to colleagues who had acted as guarantors for a loan he had taken, acknowledging the financial burden they would now face due to his death. 

He also provided detailed instructions for his burial arrangements, requesting that his body and those of his children be wrapped in blankets instead of placed in caskets. Additionally, he outlined how his property should be divided among his family members. Family members describe Goga as an introvert who tended to keep his struggles to himself. His brother, Collins Goga, expresses deep sorrow over the incident, lamenting that the issues outlined in the suicide notes could have been addressed had Goga sought support. 

Another brother, Fred, recounts his last conversation with Goga on Saturday, during which the officer mentioned visiting their ailing mother in the hospital. Mere hours after that conversation, news of his tragic death emerged.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem visited the scene to begin investigations. Koilem describes Goga as a focused officer and stresses the importance of communication in resolving personal and professional struggles. Post-mortem examinations are expected to reveal the exact substance used in the poisoning.