A police constable suspected of killing a colleague at a border patrol training facility in Kitui County has been arrested after a search operation led officers into a thorny thicket several kilometres from the scene.
The suspect, identified as Hussein Yussuf Ali, was apprehended on Monday, October 26, 2026, after instructors from the Wikithuki Border Patrol Unit (BPU) Training Camp in Tseikuru tracked him to a bush approximately three kilometres away.
Police said he was subsequently taken to Tseikuru Police Station as investigations into the fatal shooting continued.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 25, when Police Constable Raphael Ojiambo was allegedly shot at around 3pm. The two officers had recently completed their training and were undergoing induction at the facility.
Preliminary findings have linked Ali to the shooting, although investigators are yet to establish the full circumstances that led to the incident. According to the initial account, Ojiambo suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, with the bullet reportedly lodging near his left shoulder.
Officers recovered two G3 rifles at the scene, one reportedly assigned to the deceased and the other to the suspect. Investigators did not find any spent cartridge casings at the location.
Two mobile phones were also collected from the scene, with one showing damage believed to have been caused by a bullet. A third phone was reportedly recovered from the suspect, and the devices are expected to undergo forensic examination.
The scene was documented as part of the evidence-gathering process, while Ojiambo’s body was transferred to Chiromo Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem examination.
The shooting has drawn attention to the mental health challenges facing members of the National Police Service, who regularly encounter traumatic situations while carrying out their duties. Police officers are routinely exposed to distressing incidents, high-pressure assignments and dangerous working conditions, factors that can affect their psychological well-being.
In response to concerns over mental health within the service, police authorities have introduced counselling programmes, while the National Police Service Commission has established a dedicated unit to support officers dealing with psychological and related challenges. The unit is tasked with assessing needs and coordinating outreach initiatives aimed at preventing mental health problems and substance abuse among officers.
Authorities have previously acknowledged the demanding nature of police work, noting that officers frequently handle difficult community situations while being expected to maintain law and order, often at considerable personal risk.
Mental health experts identify several factors that may contribute to suicide risk, including depression, substance misuse, financial hardship, bereavement, workplace bullying and previous suicide attempts. Family history and difficulties involving employment, education or legal matters may also contribute.
The government has said it is pursuing measures to address mental health concerns within the police service amid continuing concerns about deaths and psychological distress among officers.
However, investigators have not established whether psychological distress or any other factor played a role in the shooting at the Kitui training camp.
