The case where a Police Constable killed his three children before taking his own life has brought to fore the challenges married officers face, especially when they are posted far away from their young families.

The situation is further exacerbated by senior officers who are either unable to identify and offer help to officers who need help or are biased and inconsiderate.

The Constable left behind a suicide note. Though it is believed to have been authored by him, part of the ongoing probe is to establish if it was genuine and was voluntarily written by the officer.

One of the ways is by obtaining an exemplar -known handwriting of the deceased -for comparison.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the notes indicated suicidal intent, are coherent and legible and were probably not written under coercion.

One of the reasons given by the deceased officer for his death is suspicion that his wife had an affair with another man, a church elder, in the village.

The officer was working about 750km away from his rural home in Kakdhimu, Homa Bay County.

In the note, he recounts how he sought the assistance of his in-laws upon realising that his wife had an extra-marital affair.

“You never gave me a listening ear everything your daughter told you was final, this last time your daughter was cheating on me with an elder known as ….. When I complained you as usual told her to leave as quick as possible and sent boda boda to pick her with my kids,” the note reads.

“I have decided to end it once and for all so that you can be at peace and be contented. Your selfishness is the reason my marriage went through a series of problems. When she started misbehaving I lost hope in supporting her education because she was now a woman of everyone in the village.”

He also blamed one of his bosses, an Inspector of Police, for frustrating him and favouring other officers.

On Sunday, Constable Okebe killed Eden Hazard Okebe, 6, Trezy Nicole Okebe, 5, and Seth Odeka, 5, who is his in-law’s son in Kakdhimu East Location, Kawiti Sub Location, Kawarwai village of Rachuonyo West Sub County. Preliminary investigations indicate that the children were given poison.

Suicide note

In the suicide note, the officer indicated how he wanted his children buried, among other things.

At least three suicide cases involving police officers are recorded every month. Officials say police are generally on the receiving end of all community problems.

Security expert George Musamali yesterday said such officers are expected to maintain law and order in difficult situations, besides putting their lives at risk.

“Police officers posted far from their families face challenges including emotional distress, strained relationships, difficulty balancing work and family. The distance and emotional burden can strain relationships with spouses and children, and can lead to conflict,” Musamali said.

Experts also recommend that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) should embrace employee friendly policies which support parental leave, ability to take time off, and flexible work arrangements which gives the officers the ability to balance work and family life.

Some officers are faced with various challenges while fulfilling their work and family roles, especially those posted to work in far flung and highly dangerous areas, and the pressures may have a negative effect on their lives.
According to experts, stress due to the work environment has also been identified as a major cause.

Remote areas

Few years ago, an Administration Police Service (APS) officer) shot himself dead in Garissa after he was transferred to a more terror prone area despite having served in the region for three years.

“Police work may force officers to work far away from home, in remote areas. This requires a lot of sacrifice and devotion, especially with the meagre salaries,” Musamali said.

Such cases have been reported for so many years but little has been done to deal with them. One of the reported cases is that of a Mandera-based officer who had deserted duty over frustrations and later killed himself in Kisumu. The deceased officer was struggling with old trauma, family issues and frustrations at work having worked in Mandera for five years, during which period he survived at least five terror attacks.

A training needs assessment revealed that some commanders -who deal directly with the junior officers -were not conversant with management, counselling, station and financial management, and public relations.

“The commanders have been advised to closely monitor their juniors, and offer them necessary help, when needed,” Musamali said.

The National Police Service has said some commanders have been trained on, among other things, emotional intelligence to help them manage their own emotions, and those of their juniors.

The training focuses on key elements including self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.

In another case also last month, a 49-year-old Police Constable died by suicide at Sossiot police station in unclear circumstances.

The officer, who had been transferred to the new station last week, is said to have been suffering from both auditory and visual hallucinations and had claimed that he was being “chased by unknown people” in his house.

As a result, he left his house and went to the station where he reported to one of the senior officers that he had been chased by unknown people and decided to spend the night at the station. Later, his body was found dangling from the window grills of the radio room.

About 60 officers die by suicide every year due to stress and social, financial and workplace pressures with the situation continuing to worsen, according to mental health experts.