Kenya police is a species under severe psychological, economic and emotional threat, data collected by a unit set up in the National Police Service Commission show.

Over the years since the launch of the National Police Service Psychological Counselling Police unit, statistics show that the situation in the National Police Service is not getting any better with the data painting a grim picture of a workforce that has seen at least 12,000 police officers suffer from work-related mental health issues.

The latest data published last year show that on average of 13 murders and 11 suicides are reported annually among police.  The statistics for homicide and depression are astronomically higher, the report says without ascribing specifics.

Given these realities, robust counselling and mental wellness programmes are a necessity, according to Lurambi Member of National Assembly Titus Khamala, who has offered to provide counselling and other psychosocial support to reduce depression, homicide and suicide incidence in the police service.

Khamala, an evangelical cleric, pledged during a tour of Bukura Police Station last week to provide free counselling to police officers working in his constituency in appreciation of their demanding work schedules. The MP noted police officers are human beings like other Kenyans who need the love and support of the country in their demanding duty of ensuring peace and security in society.

Bukura Police Station police post was constructed by the Lurambi National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF) to provide a friendly working environment for police officers. Khamala noted that police officers go through strenuous work assignments from which some suffer steep depression.

Between 2021 and 2024, the National Police Service Psychological Counselling Police unit statistics show, over 64,464 cases of counselling and psychological support have been handled.  The statistics are broken down as 33,412 cases in 2021-22, and 31,052 in 2023-24, hence the need for counselling services beyond what the government offers.

The government has deployed counsellors and social workers at the grassroots to provide direct interventions, but the numbers have fallen short of the capacity required.

Since January at least 10 incidents of suicide and homicide have been reported in the mainstream media.

Khamala says that, through the counselling and engaging in dialogue with them, he will be able to find out the challenges they go through and try to reason together to find a solution.

“I like being a friend of the officers. They are our children; they are our brothers; they are humans and as a leader, I want to begin talking to them and looking for solutions so that we can help them,” he said.

He said supporting police officers while they go through their duties will enable them be motivated and relate well with community members around them.

This comes as Kakamega County Commissioner Meru Mwangi urged the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to facilitate quick flow of information from residents to the government to enhance decision-making and support.

Speaking during a public participation on the Draft National Government Village Administration Policy in Kakamega, the County Commissioner said residents have information of what is happening around them.

“We would like that you feed the government with information that is credible, reliable with speed and accurate,” he noted.

He pointed out that the flow of timely information will enable the government to respond quickly even in times of a distress call and provide solutions to residents.

“We want to come up with home-grown solutions to the challenges facing residents in the country as the needs and aspirations of the communities must be expedited,” he noted.

Lurambi Member of Parliament Titus Khamala with police officers at the Bukura Police Station in Kakamega.

• A Tell Media / KNA by Moses Wekesa