A 24-year-old General Service Unit (GSU) officer is fighting for his life in an Eldoret hospital after shooting himself with his own rifle on Sunday night at the Miti Mbili GSU camp in Chepchoina, Trans Nzoia County.
According to reports, the officer, Joram Kiplagat Mutai, went to his colleague’s house while on sentry duty around 11 p.m. and locked himself inside before shooting himself in the lower jaw with three rounds of 7.62mm special using a CZ rifle.
Mr Mutai had just returned from an operation in Laikipia and had taken ten days off.
On Saturday, he returned to duty and was assigned to guard duty at the Miti Mbili GSU camp in Chepchoina, Endebess constituency.
According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jecinta Wesonga, the officer had breakfast with his colleagues in the morning and reported to duty later that evening.
“While on guard he told his colleague at around 11pm that he needed to go to his (colleague’s) house and get some water,” Mrs Wesonga told the Nation.
“He entered his colleague’s house, which is closer to the sentry, locked himself inside and the next thing officers heard were three gunshots and they rushed to the scene. They broke the door to find the officer had shot himself on the lower jaw [and the bullets] exited on the nose,” she said.
The seriously injured officer was rushed to Andersen Medical Centre, where he was treated and referred to Cherangani Nursing Home Kitale in critical condition.
“He was later referred to Mediheal hospital in Eldoret where he will be undergoing face reconstruction surgery,” Ms Wesonga added.
He also didn’t leave a note before shooting himself.
His motive for taking the action has not been determined, but senior officers believe it may be related to domestic issues.
