 officer shot and killed his wife and daughter before taking his own life in a tragic case of domestic violence.){kind=link}
GSU Officer in Lamu Kills Wife and Daughter Before Turning Gun on Himself
Residents of Mokowe, Lamu West, woke up to horror on Sunday morning after a General Service Unit (GSU) officer shot and killed his wife and daughter before taking his own life in a tragic case of domestic violence.
The chilling incident occurred at around 5:00 am, sending shockwaves through the quiet neighbourhood as four gunshots pierced the early morning silence. Alarmed neighbours rushed to the officer’s residence—only to be met by a grim scene: three bodies lying in pools of blood.
The officer is said to have shot his wife twice, his young daughter once, and then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide that police believe was fueled by a domestic dispute. The bodies were later moved to Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital mortuary.
Heated Argument the Night Before
According to residents and confirmed by Lamu County Commissioner Wesley Koech, the couple had been engaged in a heated argument the previous evening. The officer’s rage, it seems, carried over into the early hours—resulting in the devastating act.
“We heard gunshots that startled everyone. When we checked the house, we found the wife and child already dead, and the officer lying next to them,” said a neighbour, still shaken.
A Pattern of Tragedy in Uniform
This latest tragedy adds to a growing list of disturbing cases involving law enforcement officers turning violent—either against family or themselves.
Just last month, a similar case was reported in Rachuonyo West, Homa Bay County, where a police officer on leave from Marsabit killed three children, including two of his own, before committing suicide. A suicide note was recovered from the scene, indicating deep personal and psychological turmoil.
The disturbing trend has sparked renewed concerns over the mental health of officers serving in high-pressure environments.
Mental Health Crisis in the Force
The National Police Service (NPS) has in recent years established a dedicated counselling and wellness unit to address mental health concerns within the ranks. However, the frequency of such tragic incidents suggests more urgent interventions are needed.
Mental health advocates continue to call for routine psychological evaluations, peer support programs, and destigmatization of therapy within security forces to curb the rising cases of violence and self-harm among officers.
As investigations continue into the Lamu incident, the community mourns yet another family lost to unresolved emotional strain—within the walls of law enforcement.
In other news:“Court Will Give Me Justice”: Gachagua Speaks After Court Finds Illegality in His Ouster
GSU Officer in Lamu Kills Wife and Daughter Before Turning Gun on Himself