A junior police officer was found dead in an apparent suicide at his residence within the Forolle Police Lines in Marsabit County.

Authorities identified the officer as Constable Joseph Komolomoi who is reported to have shot himself using his AK-47 rifle on the morning of February 17 2026.

According to officials the officer was alone in his house at the time of the incident. Colleagues stationed nearby heard a gunshot and moved to investigate the situation only to discover the house was locked from inside. They forced entry and discovered his body lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators recovered a note believed to be a suicide message which explained the motive behind the incident. However the contents have not been made public because the document will undergo forensic examination to verify its authenticity.

The body was transferred to the mortuary pending a post-mortem examination and other necessary procedures. His family has been notified as arrangements begin to transport the body to his rural home for burial.

The tragedy adds to a growing number of similar cases that have affected the National Police Service in recent years despite ongoing efforts to curb the trend. Officials have linked the rising cases to trauma within the service which results in suicide being one of the main causes of officer fatalities.

Authorities say police officers undergo recurring exposure to extreme stress and traumatic events which leads to adverse effects on their psychological well-being. The National Police Service Commission has established a specialized unit to assist officers who deal with challenging situations while counseling services have been made available.

The counseling unit creates and evaluates outreach programs which help people prevent mental health issues and substance use disorders.

Officials further note that police officers are often on the frontline of community crises tasked with maintaining law and order in difficult and sometimes life-threatening conditions.

According to the World Health Organization suicide cases usually emerge because of traumatic experiences or unemployment or loss of a loved one or academic pressures or legal problems or financial struggles.