Crime

Police officer commits suicide over delay in payment of December salary

Published

5 years ago

January 6, 2022

A police officer from Koromotangi village in Kakamega County of Kenya has reportedly committed suicide over an alleged salary delay.

Abel Kemboi was found dead on Wednesday, January 5, after complaining to friends and relatives that his December salary had been delayed.

Before committing suicide, Kemboi reportedly said he would take up the salary issue with his bosses at Kakamega Police Station and even requested his cousin identified as Zacheaus Kalama to accompany him.

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When Kalama woke up the following morning and headed to Kemboi’s home, he found the door locked from inside. Upon getting no response, he broke into the house and saw that Kemboi had hanged himself. He noted that his late cousin had show signs of being depressed earlier.

Kalama said; “We had agreed to go to the station to inquire the cause of the salary delay from his bosses but it was shocking that he took his own life even before we achieved our mission.

“He had hanged himself and I did not believe what I saw.”

The deceased’s immediate boss and Kakamega Central OCPD David Kabena also confirmed that he was always depressed.

Kabena said that they had already launched investigations to ascertain the exact cause of his death. In addition, he urged officers with any underlying mental issues to seek expert attention.

He said; “It is important for those who realise that they are stressed to reach out and share what they are going through.”

Kemboi’s body was taken to Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue awaiting postmortem.