Shock as IG Joseph Boinnet’s driver commits suicide

Police Inspector General Joseph Boinnet whose driver has committed suicide. [File, Standard]

 Inspector-General Joseph Boinnet’s driver, Anthony Lemayan Lenkisol, has taken his own life.

Lemayan is said to have committed suicide at Mwamba estate on the outskirts of Narok town. The incident took place on December 9, 2018.

The GSU officer was on sick leave at the time. Lemayan used his Jericho pistol to kill himself, even though it is against police standing orders for an officer to be in possession of a firearm when off-duty.

“We don’t know why he was allowed to carry his gun when he proceeded on sick leave. We are trying to seek answers over the matter,” said an officer.

Lemayan's brother Evans Leteipa Maasai said the family was yet to come to terms with the loss. He says they were not aware that Lemayan was on sick leave, adding that: “We don’t know whether he killed himself or not, the investigators will tell us.”

The deceased had appeared before the promotion board and was waiting to be confirmed to the next rank of corporal. Cases of officers killing themselves are frequent, prompting the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) last October to establish a Counseling and Rehabilitation Centre.

“The commission has established the National Police Service Counselling and Rehabilitation Centre to assist the service in addressing psychosocial stress-related problems affecting the officers,” stated the commission.