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Why are police officers turning guns against themselves?

By ANGIRA ZADOCK zangira@ke.nationmedia.com Posted Tuesday, March 8 2011 at 17:15 IN SUMMARY

Red alert: Barely a month passes without reports of a police officer turning his gun against himself, his colleagues or the public. Is t he force becoming indisciplined?

A tragic trend has hit Kenyas security forces, and it is best illustrated by the string of murders and suicides by officers using official firearms. Experts seem unable to explain what is happening in the disciplined forces, but they all agree that something is wrong, terribly wrong. Every officer is expected to clearly understand the legal and licensing conditions governing the use of firearms, and that protection of life and property is their key mandate. However, incidents of weapon misuse are increasing at an alarming rate. And cases could be under-reported. While we have done all we could to chronicle instances when officers have turned their guns against the wrong targets, we acknowledge the fact that most of what we managed to come up with is what has found its way into the mainstream media, and that there could be dozens of other instances in the farthest and harshest frontiers of the nation that have escaped the attention of the authorities. The incidents we revisit here, therefore, only serve to highlight the indiscipline that has permeated the security forces. Diverse as they are, they put into focus an arm of the government that needs immediate attention, for not even some of the senior officers we spoke to could put a finger on what ails the police force. AP Constable Boniface Ndegwa, On January 15, this year, Administration police Constable Boniface Ndegwa, 27, and his lover Violet Akoth, 25, went to the armoury to collect firearms for night duty. Witnesses said the two were seen conversing in low tones. After collecting their firearms, they headed to the Munara district officers office, where the woman was to be on night guard duty. Ndegwa was to report on duty at the residence of Muhoroni DC Fred Ouma, about 10 kilometres away. Before Ndegwa left, the two had a lengthy argument, and that turned out to be the last fight they ever had.

Colleagues say they knew Ndegwa and Akoth were in a relationship a pretty rocky affair and did not bother when they argued. As it turned out, they should have, for, soon afterwards, gunshots disrupted the calm of the night and colleagues rushed to the scene. On arrival, none could tell who was who. They found both Ndegwa and Akoth lying dead on the ground, with blood splattered all over the scene. Ndegwa, it emerged, had shot his girlfriend before shooting himself in the head. He had served in the force for three years, while Akoth had served for only two. AP Constable Solomon Kimanthi On February 27, 28-year-old Solomon Kimanthi, a father of one, left the residence of former State House Comptroller Matere Keriri in Kirinyaga Central in the morning and headed for his residence. He was annoyed, sources indicate, over the loss of his Sh5,000 under unclear circumstances and even confined to his wife Lucy Atieno the pain of the loss. He had not returned his firearm yet, despite the fact that he had completed his guard duties, but his wife never suspected that he would use his service gun to commit suicide. Well, he did, killing himself instantly. This solitary event over an amount equivalent to a quarter of his gross pay had far-reaching repercussions for many others. To Ms Atieno, her husband had thrown a stone in the pond of her life, and the ripples spread far and wide. Benjamin Musee An officer working at Kilimani police station left his firearm at the house of Constable Benjamin Musee at the police lines on August 27, last year. Being the referendum day, most officers were out on security assignments at various polling centres. The officer picked his colleagues AK-47 rifle and shot himself in the chest, dying on the spot. It was later reported that senior officers had directed that he should not be issued with any firearm, owing to his mental status. Ngui Muthoka On February 10, an officer assigned guard duties at the residence of Kandara DC shot himself in the chest with his G3 rifle, killing himself instantly. His death appeared premeditated because, according to area police boss Saidi Mohammed, he left a suicide note directing his wife to receive his earnings and other benefits. He was only 22. Inspector Meshack Koonya Nkana

Under police regulations, any inspector or subordinate officer who strikes another officer or uses violence against a colleague, or reports on duty while drunk shall be guilty of an offence against force discipline. On February 10 this year at around 5 am, a GSU constable went to his camps armoury and was issued with a loaded G3 rifle for guard duties. He went for a briefing, but his boss, Inspector Meshack Koonya Nkana, realised that the officer was inebriated. When he told him to return the firearm to armoury, he shot his boss and another colleague, then turned the gun on himself. Inspector Nkana died on the spot, while the other officer succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Coast Provincial General Hospital. Colleagues suspected that the attacker feared that he would be disciplined for reporting on duty while drunk. The 43-year-old inspector was in charge of the Genaral Service Units B Companys camp next to Mombasa Airport. It is not clear why the junior officer, who had only served for three years, was issued with a firearm while drunk. Our sources revealed that the officer had been warned on several occasions about his drunkenness. In another incident, a drunk police officer attached to Kiembeni patrol unit in Mombasa went on the rampage on the night of August 27, 2009, threatening to shoot the very residents he was charged to secure. In the middle of the melee, he caught up with a colleague with whom they had disagreed over a mutual female friend and shot him twice in the chest, killing him instantly. Riamokogoti AP Post On May 7, last year in Borabu District, two constables attached to the Riamokogoti AP post engaged in an argument before one opened fire on the other, killing him instantly. The assailant then killed himself. Area district commissioner Hassan Noor said the two had disagreed over an issue. The issue is yet to be revealed. KWS ranger Even though the incidents above point to a troubled police force, they should not, in any way, be misconstrued to indicate that only the regular and Administration police services have been hit by indiscipline. Heres why: In August 2009 at Voyager Hotel in Tsavo West National Park, Taveta District, a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ranger shot dead a woman believed to be his girlfriend. The woman was an accountant at the hotel. Police linked the accountants murder to a love triangle.

Alarmed? Send your comments to dn2@ke.nationmedia.com