Senior DCI officer found dead at Manga cliff in Nyamira

A senior DCI officer found dead at Manga cliff in Nyamira Mystery surrounds the death of a senior Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer whose body was found at a cliff after a fall.

It is not clear if Manga Sub County Criminal Investigations Officer Chief Inspector Isaac Thiaka died by suicide or was pushed to the base of the about 100 feet deep cliff in Nyamira County.

His body was found about 50 feet down the cliff by a woman who was said to be collecting firewood on Friday, March 3 evening.

According to police, the woman spotted the body and screamed for attention, attracting the attention of many including police.

The cliff is about 200 meters away from the police station where Thiaka had been minutes earlier before his body was discovered.

The body had been blocked by a tree and hanged halfway down the cliff when it was discovered, police said.

Witnesses said it had a deep cut on the right side of the head and there were traces of blood at the base of the cliff.

Senior police commanders rushed to the scene on being informed of the incident.

It was established Thiaka was earlier in the company of another police officer from Sengera police station.

The officer is said to have left the deceased and rushed to the station to lower the national flag as it was approaching 6 pm.

The constable of police told police he and Thiaka were standing outside the station when he excused himself to go and lower the flag.

And after lowering the flag he went back hoping to continue his conversation with Thiaka but did not find him.

It was then that he allegedly heard screams from the woman who had spotted the fresh body at the cliff.

This drew his attention there and it was then that it was confirmed the senior DCI had died.

Thiaka was an experienced police officer having risen the ranks to his position. He also served several places.

Nyamira police boss James Mutigo said they are investigating the incident.

He said they are yet to establish the motive of the death.“We are yet to gather more on this tragic incident but investigations are ongoing,” he said.

Cases of suicide have been on the rise in the police service. Most of them are related to their work. Officials say the officers are exposed to trauma that largely contributes to such tragedies.

Efforts are being made to address the trend.