A police officer stationed at the Ng’ombeni Patrol Base in Kwale County was killed by an enraged mob after he reportedly tried to assault a family in Ziwani using weapons.
According to a police report, Constable Titus Gaya left his station without authorization and arrived at the residence of Mwanaisha Ali around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday.
The officer attempted to attack the family with bows and arrows, causing significant alarm among Ali’s relatives, who were shocked to find an armed intruder at their home.
Mwanaisha Ali managed to raise an alarm, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene.
They were able to overpower the officer, who was then severely attacked by the mob and ultimately died from his injuries.
Other officers in Kwale were alerted to the situation and arrived to find Gaya’s lifeless body at the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the officer had recently been struggling with mental health issues.
This tragic incident underscores a troubling trend of mental health challenges among police officers.
According to data from the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), approximately 12,000 officers experience mental health problems, often exacerbated by the demands of their work environment.
In response to this crisis, the NPSC has implemented counseling sessions to provide personalized support for officers.
As of June 2023, the Commission reported that 25,879 officers had participated in these counseling programs to address their mental health needs.
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