Police constable Hudson Wasike from the General Service Unit (GSU) who was a bodyguard to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i shot his wife dead before killing himself.
Wasike’s wife, Pauline Wakasa was a traffic police officer stationed in Kilimani Police Division.
The Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai in a statement said that preliminary investigations into the incident showed that the Wasike had an altercation with his wife.
The couple had argued over Pauline’s move to vacate GSU camp premises where they lived.
When Wasike arrived home from work on Tuesday, he is said to have found Pauline eating while still dressed in her uniform and they argued.
Pauline moved out of the GSU camp on Saturday.
Wasike got out of the house – the new house where Pauline moved to and came back with a gun shooting her eight times in the chest.
He then turned the gun to self and shot through the chin to the head.
When police officers arrived, they found the dead bodies of the two lying on the floor of the sitting room.
The couple left behind two children aged five and two years.
Their bodies were moved to Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary.
Matiang’i in a statement said that Wasike’s death is painful and it exposes the psychological challenges that police officers are going through.
“I am deeply pained by the tragic incident involving PC Hudson Wakise and his wife PC Pauline Wakasa both young and vibrant Police officers with brilliant futures tragically ended in their shocking demise,” he said in a tweet.
“It’s a rude awakening to psychosocial challenges amongst some of our young officers that we have no choice but to now pay greater attention to. My sincere condolences to their families and friends.”
The couple’s death adds to a list of cases where police officers have turned to the barrel of gun to commit suicide and kill their loved ones and colleagues.
In most cases, this has been associated with work stress and trauma.