By Fridah Mbuvi, June 11, 2026
A postmortem examination has confirmed that Police Constable Raphael Kingo’la Masesi died after ingesting a toxic substance, with investigators treating the incident as a suspected suicide.
According to a report by The Star, the 37-year-old officer was found dead inside his vehicle in Mwala Sub-county, Machakos County, in an incident that has raised fresh concerns over the mental wellbeing of officers within the National Police Service.
The body was discovered on Tuesday, June 9, after members of the public noticed a vehicle parked suspiciously near Kikelenzu Junction in Mumoni village, Utithini Sublocation, and alerted traffic police officers who were conducting routine patrols in the area.
Responding officers found Masesi lying motionless in the driver’s seat of a white Toyota Probox.
Police officers processing the scene observed foam around the deceased’s mouth, prompting further investigations. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a bottle cap believed to have come from a Diazinon pesticide container, suggesting chemical poisoning.
The body was moved to a mortuary pending a postmortem examination, which has now established that the officer succumbed to poisoning caused by ingestion of a toxic substance.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are continuing with investigations to establish the events leading to the officer’s death and determine whether any additional factors may have contributed to the tragedy.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over increasing cases of suicide and mental health challenges among members of the National Police Service. Experts have previously linked the trend to work-related stress, psychological trauma, long working hours and personal pressures.
Authorities have urged officers and members of the public experiencing emotional distress to seek professional help and utilize available psychosocial support services.
