Deputy OCS kills suspected lover, turns gun on self

The Mau Summit Deputy OCS is nursing a serious gunshot wound. [iStockphoto]

An Inspector of Police is fighting for his life at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital after he shot himself in the head and killed a woman in a suspected love triangle.

Speaking to The Standard, Kuresoi North Sub County Police Commander James Ademba said that the deputy Officer Commanding Station (OCS) is in critical condition.

"The Mau Summit Deputy OCS is nursing a serious gunshot wound in the head at the Nakuru hospital after reportedly shooting himself on Monday morning," said Ademba.

The police boss intimated that the officer reported to his workstation early morning before leaving unannounced with no company.

"He entered his office and left the station alone a few minutes later. He didn't use any official vehicle to get to the scene of the incident. We suspect he used a boda boda," said Ademba.

Ademba explained that the officer reportedly met with the woman, a close acquaintance, along a road leading to her residence.

"The officer is said to have shot the woman once in the chest before pulling the trigger on himself. A resident called the station reporting the incident which we immediately responded to," said Ademba.

He added that the two were found writhing in pain in pools of blood by the roadside and were rushed to Molo Sub County Hospital for medical attention.

"Unfortunately, the woman was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital and her body taken to the hospital's morgue. The officer was attended to and referred to Nakuru," said Ademba.

Ademba said that they could not reveal the identities of the two, both aged between 30 and 40 years as they had not informed their respective families of the incident.

"The officer has been at the station for the last nine months. He has been friends with the woman but very scanty details are available currently on their relationship," he said.

Ademba added that they were yet to establish the motive of the shooting.

"The scene was six kilometres from the police station. We also recovered his loaded pistol at the scene. We have launched investigations over the incident," said Ademba.

According to other police sources, the woman ran a wines and spirit outlet at the nearby trading centre.

The incident came just three weeks after another cop, Corporal George Morara, attempted to die by suicide while on duty in Naivasha by shooting himself through the chin, but survived.

"It is sad that incidents of this nature have started to come back in the county. The wellness football tournaments should be revived to keep the officers in check physically and mentally," said another officer.