A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officer, Corporal Richard Ndegwa Gichia, 39, was found dead in an apparent suicide at the KWS headquarters in Lang’ata, Nairobi on Saturday afternoon.
Police responded to the scene around 3 pm and discovered the officer’s body inside a washroom at Ndovu Court. Corporal Gichia was seated on a toilet bowl holding an AK-103 rifle in his left hand.
Initial investigations revealed that Corporal Gichia, who was assigned as an unarmed guard commander, had accessed the armoury and collected a loaded AK-103 rifle before entering the washroom where he reportedly shot himself. The bullet trajectory was from the mouth exiting through the skull.
No suicide note was found at the scene, and the motive behind the incident remains unclear. Crime Scene Investigation officers processed the area before the body was taken to Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home pending a post-mortem examination.
Context and Ongoing Investigations
- Police have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
- Suicide rates have been rising among disciplined services in Kenya, including KWS, police, prisons, and military personnel.
- Officials highlight that KWS officers often face difficult and risky situations while maintaining law and order, which can contribute to mental health challenges.
- Common factors linked to suicide include trauma, joblessness, financial pressures, bullying, substance abuse, and mental health disorders.
- The government has acknowledged the issue and is working on strategies to address it.
Additional Incident in Kisumu
Separately, police in Kisumu County are investigating the discovery of a decomposed male body found floating in River Sondu Miriu near Olwa Village, Nyakach Subcounty. The body was retrieved with public assistance and taken to Nyakach Subcounty Mortuary. Identification efforts and a post-mortem examination are underway as police seek information from the public.
