A police officer attached to President William Ruto’s security detail died on the evening of Tuesday, April 22, after collapsing at Karen Police Station.
Sergeant Daniel Kipruto Kangogo, who served in the elite Presidential Escort Unit, collapsed while attempting to board a Toyota Prado alongside fellow officer Sergeant Ronald Rono.
He was immediately rushed to Karen Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
As of the time of publication, police said the cause of his death had not been established.
Police Officer Attached to Elite Presidential Escort Unit Daniel Kipruto Dies
The Presidential Escort Unit, under the leadership of Noah Maiyo, is tasked with protecting the President, Deputy President, First Family, retired Presidents, and visiting heads of state.
This incident comes nearly a month after a candidate shortlisted for the position of National Police Service Commission (NPSC) chairperson collapsed and died while waiting to be interviewed by the Selection Panel.
Komora Mubadi Jilo, who was among those shortlisted for both the chairperson and member positions, collapsed on Tuesday, March 25, at the Public Service Commission (PSC) offices along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi.
According to officials, Jilo was among four candidates scheduled for interviews that day when he suddenly collapsed. The incident temporarily disrupted the interview process.
The cause of his death remained unclear, and his body was moved to the mortuary pending a postmortem examination.
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Mysterious Deaths of Police Officers
Similarly, in October last year, a female police officer died after collapsing at her rented home in the Utawala area of Machakos County.
Constable Pauline Adenyoh, who was attached to Muungano Police Station, suffered a fatal seizure on the evening of Tuesday, October 8. Her husband reported the incident around 10:00 p.m.
She was rushed to Reale Hospital in Utawala for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival, according to police reports.
Kipruto’s case marks the latest in a series of tragic deaths involving police officers.
While some officers succumb to illness, others have lost their lives to suicide—often linked to depression and the pressures of the job.
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As part of efforts to address the trend, police authorities in 2024 launched counselling services and the National Police Service Commission established a unit and staffed it to attend to their demanding situation.
The counselling unit will, among other things, evaluate, design and lead an outreach programme that helps prevent mental health and substance abuse.
Officials note that police officers often bear the brunt of community challenges. They are expected to maintain law and order under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions, frequently putting their lives at risk.
Over the years, a rise in deaths within the service has been linked to trauma, both psychological and physical, faced on the job.
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