Grief has overwhelmed the community of Kagoga village in Homa Bay County, Kenya, after a tragic incident involving a police officer who took his own life after allegedly killing three children, including his two children and a nephew.
The incident occurred on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the officer’s home in Kagoga village, Kakdhimu East Location, Rachuonyo West Sub-county.
The officer, identified as David Okebe, was attached to Marsabit Police Station and was reportedly on leave at the time of the incident.
Authorities say Okebe took the lives of his six-year-old son, his five-year-old daughter, and his in-law’s five-year-old son. Preliminary reports suggest the children may have been poisoned, as foam was found around their mouths, though no visible injuries were observed. Okebe is believed to have later died by suicide through hanging inside his home.
According to Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem, tensions between Okebe and his wife had been escalating for some time. Following a domestic dispute, the wife reportedly left their matrimonial home with the children and went to live with her parents. Okebe later went to her family’s home and brought the children back with him.
Tragically, their bodies were discovered by neighbors who entered the house after sensing something was wrong. The officer’s son and daughter were found on a bed, while the nephew was found in a chair in the sitting room.
Commander Koilem confirmed that a suicide note was recovered at the scene, in which the officer blamed his wife and in-laws for the family conflict that he claimed led to his actions.
“The officer left a suicide note accusing his wife and in-laws of being the root cause of the challenges he was facing, which allegedly drove him to take this extreme step,” Koilem stated.
He urged families and community members to support couples experiencing marital difficulties and encouraged anyone facing emotional or psychological distress to seek professional guidance and counseling.
“This unfortunate incident could have been avoided had the issues been resolved peacefully. We call on residents to reach out for help when going through hard times,” he added.
The bodies of the victims have been transferred to Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary as investigations continue.
