Police officers in Kericho County are looking into the suspected suicide of a 49-year-old officer whose body was found hanging inside Sossiot Police Station in Belgut.

This tragic discovery has left colleagues, family members and authorities searching for answers as to why the officer decided to end his life.

The officer, identified as Constable Paul Wagathari, was found dead in the station’s radio room early on Sunday morning, March 16, 2025.

His fellow officers reported that he had recently been transferred to the station and had only been working there for a few weeks.

According to police reports, Wagathari arrived at the station on Sunday morning in a distressed state. He told his colleagues that unidentified individuals were chasing him from his house within the police lines.

After sharing this unsettling claim, he remained inside the radio room alongside two officers who were on duty at the time.

A short while later, the two officers stepped outside to hoist the national flag, a required routine morning task.

However, when they returned just minutes later, they were met with a shocking sight—Wagathari’s lifeless body was hanging from a window grill, with a shoelace tied tightly around his neck.

Authorities say they are still trying to determine what led to the tragic incident. For now, the officer’s body has been moved to the local mortuary, where an autopsy will be conducted as part of the ongoing investigations.

Growing Concerns Over Police Suicides

Wagathari’s death is part of a concerning trend of suicides among police officers in Kenya. Over the past few years, many officers have died by suicide or have been involved in violent incidents.

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Experts and authorities believe that work-related stress, mental health struggles, and tough working conditions are major contributing factors.

As cases of police suicides continue to rise, there have been growing calls for improved mental health support within the force.

Many believe that better counseling services, reduced workloads, and mental health awareness programs could help officers cope with the pressures of their demanding jobs.

Steps Being Taken to Improve Police Welfare

Meanwhile, police leadership is working to address some of the challenges officers face. In a recent move aimed at boosting morale within the force, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja promoted an officer named Jesca from the rank of police constable to corporal.

This effort therefore, is part of ongoing structural changes designed to recognize and motivate officers.

As the investigation into Wagathari’s death continues, authorities are urging officers who are struggling—whether personally or professionally—to seek counseling and make use of the support services available within the police force.

The hope is that increased awareness and access to mental health resources will help prevent more tragedies in the future.