KWS Officer Dies by Suspected Suicide Inside Nakuru National Park

A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officer was found dead on Thursday in what police are treating as a suspected suicide incident at Honeymoon Camp within Nakuru National Park.

According to a report filed at Bondeni Police Station in Nakuru East Sub-County, the incident was reported at around 1:40 p.m. by the Officer in Charge of Investigations at KWS, Mr. Edwin Mwasi.

Police officers who responded to the scene established that Corporal Leonard Odero, a KWS officer who was on standby duty, had allegedly shot himself inside his residence, House No. HMB 10, located within the park.

The officer had been issued with a CZ Bren 2 rifle and ammunition for duty. Investigators found him seated on the floor inside the house with multiple gunshot wounds. Preliminary findings indicate that he sustained injuries to the head, mouth and chin area, chest, upper left hand, and left palm.

Six spent 7.62mm cartridges were recovered from the scene.

Investigators also recovered a five-page handwritten note from a metallic box inside the house. The note, reportedly addressed to the deceased’s wife and parents, expressed regret over his intended actions and contained details regarding debts, property ownership, and contact information for close family members and other persons he wished to be notified.

Police noted that the officer had been transferred to the Nakuru command from Aberdare National Park approximately one and a half months ago.

Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers processed the scene before the body was moved to Umash Funeral Home pending a post-mortem examination. The firearm was secured and retained as an exhibit.

The case has been recorded as a pending investigation, with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nakuru East Sub-County leading further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his death.