GSU Officer In Hospital After Shooting Himself

He is reported to have shot himself with his rifle on Sunday night at the Miti Mbili GSU camp in Chepchoina, Trans Nzoia County,

According to reports, the officer, went to his colleague's residence while on guard duty at 11 p.m. While there, he locked himself inside and shot himself in the lower jaw with three 7.62mm special bullets fired from a CZ rifle.

He had just returned from a ten-day break after an operation in Laikipia.

On Saturday, he returned to service and was sent to the Miti Mbili GSU camp.

According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jecinta Wesonga, the officer appeared to be joyful while having breakfast with his colleagues in the morning and reported to duty later in the evening,

"While on guard he told his colleague at around 11pm that he needed to go to his (colleague's) house and get some water," Wesonga told the Nation. 

"He entered his colleague's house, which is closer to the sentry, locked himself inside and the next thing officers heard were three gunshots and they rushed to the scene. They broke the door to find the officer had shot himself on the lower jaw [and the bullets] exited on the nose," she added.

She went on to say that after returning from his house in on Saturday, the officer had displayed no signs of stress or despair.

He had not even left a note before shooting himself.

His motivation for the attempt has not been determined, but top officers assume it has something to do with family issues.

Officers were advised to open up about their struggles to their colleagues or senior officers so as to get help.

"We shall still go on with counselling and talking, while urging them to open up and talk whenever they have problems," Wesonga said.