A Nairobi-based police officer, Constable Harrison Mugo, recently died by suicide after facing disciplinary action over a viral video that showed him drunk and disorderly while in uniform.
Mugo, who was attached to Buruburu Police Station, was found dead in the station canteen shortly after his superiors launched an investigation into his misconduct.
The National Police Service (NPS) had condemned his behavior as unbecoming and unprofessional, but behind the public reprimand lay a deeper tragedy.
Reports reveal that Mugo had been battling depression since 2019, when his young son died in a road accident during a school trip in Nanyuki.
His widow, Judy Wambui, described him as a devoted father whose life unraveled after the loss. He became withdrawn, frequently spoke about his late son. The trauma led him down a difficult path, with alcohol becoming his escape from emotional pain.
Colleagues also noted how his son’s death devastated him, pushing him into a downward spiral marked by heavy drinking. This contributed to the behavioral issues that ultimately resulted in his reprimand.
Mugo’s case is one among numerous instances where police officers experience mental health struggles and workplace pressures that culminate in suicide.
By Kenyans