Police officer commits suicide after transfer from traffic duties

A police corporal committed suicide at the Mukurweini Police Station in Nyeri County on New Year over, according to his colleagues, a transfer from the traffic department.

Corporal Martin Mwongera Ngutiri, who was recently posted from Mukurweini to the Central region headquarters on disciplinary grounds, is believed to have hanged himself.

The body was discovered at around 7.30pm on Friday dangling from a pair of bed-sheets inside his quarters at the police lines.

Mukurweini OCPD Johnathan Muli said: "I was called by my officers at around 7.45pm and informed that a body belonging to one of my officers was hanging from the roof of his house. We are yet to know the motive, but all I can say is that he lately seemed disturbed."

An officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr Mwongera who was recently transferred to the Regional Headquarters Operations office seemed disturbed and depressed. He was moved from Othaya police station where he worked as a traffic officer in a disciplinary move for "portraying a bad name to the force."

"Marto used to brag that he had a lot of money while at the Othaya traffic base, but since he went to the headquarters, things became tough for him," said a former colleague.