Details on the circumstances surrounding the death of Buruburu police officer, Harrison Mugo, who was caught on camera drunk while in uniform, have emerged.
Mugo committed suicide using a sisal rope towards the end of last week after being summoned for disciplinary action following his behavior which NPS described as unbecoming, unacceptable and unprofessional.
In the viral video, the visibly drunk officer could be seen staggering and eventually lying down by the roadside when the going got too tough for him. It took members of the public to get him to his destination.
Apparently, Mugo had been facing depression since the death of his first born son, who was identified as Samuel Mugo, in 2019. His colleagues revealed that he talked a lot about his deceased son since the day he was captured drunk on camera.
“He always told us about his son who died three years ago. One could tell that he was not doing well,” said a colleague.
On the other hand his wife Judy Wambui revealed that her husband’s behavior changed the moment they lost Samuel who was about to sit for KCPE exams.
Samuel lost his life through a road accident on May 11, 2019 during an academic trip in Laikipia county.
“Whenever he was at home, he spoke about our son. It really affected him. It seems he found solace in alcohol,” the mother of three, who lives in Murang’a, told a local publication.
Before committing suicide, Mugo communicated to his wife informing her that he had troubles at his work place.
“On the day he took his life, he told me things were not okay at work but promised to sort out the issue. Our second-born son was unwell, so he asked me to take him to hospital,” Wambui recounted.
Weeks ago his family was forced to seek help from a psychiatrist since his mental health condition was worsening.
Mugo had been the sole provider of his family. His mother as well as his siblings who have no formal jobs depended on him. His wife however said that he took care of his responsibilities without fail and was on the frontline of development programmes at his ACK Murang’a church.
The 42-year old joined the police service in 2000 at the age of the 22 years. After training, he was posted to Jogoo police station before being transferred to Western Kenya in 2004 where he met with Wambui.
He was transferred to Buruburu police station at the beginning of this year.
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