A police officer was on Sunday morning disarmed and arrested after firing 30 rounds of ammunition into the air at his colleagues’ residential quarters in a dramatic incident that lasted nearly ten minutes.
According to witnesses, the officer, who had been assigned to man the cell sentry office and was armed with an AK-47 rifle, went to the residences of two colleagues while shooting in the air and issuing threats.
“He fired several shots and even threatened to kill one of the wives before moving to another house,” said one officer who sought anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Panic spread through the camp as officers took cover, fearing for their safety. Others quickly began devising ways to disarm their colleague before the situation escalated further.
Police later confirmed that no one was injured during the ordeal. Fourteen spent cartridges were recovered from the scene.
After exhausting his magazine, the officer was subdued, disarmed, and detained. Authorities said investigations are ongoing to establish the motive of the shooting.
Although the motive remains unclear, police sources linked the incident to growing concerns over mental health challenges among officers — an issue that has increasingly drawn national attention.
In recent years, several cases of police officers turning their weapons on colleagues, family members, or themselves have raised alarm within the National Police Service (NPS).
To address the crisis, the service has rolled out several interventions, including the establishment of a Counselling and Psychosocial Support Unit under the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). The unit is tasked with evaluating and leading outreach programmes to prevent mental health breakdowns and substance abuse among officers.
Officials note that police officers often bear the brunt of community problems, working in high-stress environments and frequently putting their lives on the line. Unfortunately, some resort to suicide when the pressure becomes unbearable.
On September 10, 2025, the National Police Service joined partners and stakeholders at the Cooperative University of Kenya in Nairobi to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, which seeks to raise global awareness that suicide can be prevented.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, represented by the Director of Counselling and Psychosocial Support, Evelyn Mbugua, underscored the service’s commitment to improving officers’ mental health.
“These efforts include establishing counselling offices, chaplaincy services, psychosocial deployment, and forming partnerships with institutions such as Africa International University and DMF-Kenya,” Kanja said.
He emphasized the need to break the silence and end the stigma surrounding mental health, calling on all stakeholders to strengthen access to counselling and psychosocial support while fostering partnerships to save lives.
