A police officer was on Monday morning found dead after an apparent suicide at Nyalenda Police Lines in Kisumu.
According to police, the officer, identified as Constable Omari Ontweka Wycliffe, was discovered at around 9am, hanging from a stair rail using his waist belt.
The incident was first reported by a neighbour, Caleb Otieno, who lives within the police housing unit.
Otieno told police that he had stepped out of his parents’ house, Block A House No. 1, when he noticed the officer hanging on the stair rail of a nearby block.
“I tried to rescue him immediately, but his body was unresponsive,” Otieno said in his report to authority.
Police officers led by the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer and the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Kisumu Central scene and confirmed the death.
Kisumu Central OCS Benson Matheka said preliminary findings indicate that the officer died by suicide.
“The deceased, No. 114344 PC Omari Ontweka Wycliffe, was found hanging on the stair rail using his waist belt. The body had no visible injuries and no suicide note was recovered at the scene,” said Matheka.
Neighbors who responded to the incident attempted to save the officer, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene before the body was moved to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination.
The case has been classified as Pending Under Investigation, with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kisumu Central taking over the probe.
It adds to growing concern over mental health challenges within the disciplined forces, as cases of suicide among officers continue to be reported.
By Chris Mahandara
