A police officer was on Monday morning was found dead in what appeared like suicide at Nyalenda Police Lines in Kisumu.

According to police, the officer, identified as Constable Omari Ontweka Wycliffe, was discovered at around 9am, hanging from a stair rail. It is said he used a waist belt to take his life.

The incident was first reported by a neighbor, Caleb Otieno, who lives in the police housing unit. Otieno told police that he had stepped out of his parents’ house, Block A House No. 1, when he noticed the officer hanging on the stair rail of a nearby block.

“I tried to rescue him immediately, but his body was unresponsive,” Otieno said in his report to authorities.

Police officers led by the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer and the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Kisumu Central visited the scene and confirmed the death. Kisumu Central OCS Benson Matheka said preliminary findings indicate that the officer died by suicide.

“The deceased, No. 114344 PC Omari Ontweka Wycliffe, was found hanging on the stair rail using his waist belt (sic). The body had no visible injuries and no suicide note was recovered at the scene,” Matheka said.

Neighbours who responded to the incident attempted to save the officer but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene before the body was moved to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

The incident has been classified as “pending under investigation”, with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kisumu Central taking over the probe.

It adds to growing concern over mental health challenges in the disciplined forces as cases of suicide among officers rises.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Chris Mahandara