Vetting-phobia drives police officer to kill himself
A traffic police officer shot himself dead on Thursday evening in his house in Milimani, Kisumu in what colleagues said was fear of police vetting results.
During his vetting in Kisumu on June 15, Constable Alfred Ndalanu was asked to explain why he received money from a prominent businessman.
On Thursday, Mr Ndalanu, in his late 40s, is said to have tricked his colleague with whom he shared a flat to leave the room. He then shot himself twice in the throat at 8.30 pm. He left his meal of chicken and ugali unfinished.
“The officer shot himself with an automatic shotgun,” Kisumu Central Police boss Wilston Mwakio said.
Mr Ndalanu was a motorcycle officer in the Kisumu Central base.
His colleague had just taken the gun from the armoury and was preparing for his night shift when Mr Ndalanu asked him to get a screwdriver from their neighbour’s house before leaving for work.
The unsuspecting colleague obliged but was brought to a halt halfway down the stairs when he heard gunshots from their house. He rushed back to find Ndalanu dead.
“ESCORTING HINDU GOD”
During the day, Mr Ndalanu escorted Fisheries Principal Secretary Micheni Ntiba from a hotel to the ongoing agricultural show at Mamboleo Grounds.
“He looked jovial but had been telling us how uncomfortable he was as the release of the police vetting results draws near,” said a colleague.
Mr Ndalanu had expressed worries and fears about the outcome of the recent vetting. Results were expected in the coming weeks.
Mr Ndalanu told the National Police Service Commission vetting panel that the money he received from a prominent businessman was payment for “escorting a Hindu god” during religious processions and hearses during funerals.
“I am paid to escort a ‘Hindu god’, which is sometimes taken around town for religious processions,” he said. Those in the panel and witnesses broke into laughter.
He told Commissioner Mohammed Murshid that he earned Sh3,000 for escort duty, but could not explain if the extra assignments interfered with his core mandate of policing roads.