This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
On July 14, 2020, a disturbing incident unfolded at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Kenya. A detective, Dorina Luchera, sustained 52% burns after dousing her body in paraffin and setting herself ablaze.
According to reports, the incident occurred following a quarrel with her husband, Joshua Makanga, a police constable attached to Machinery Police Station in Makueni County. Makanga has recorded a statement detailing the incident, alleging that his wife's actions were a reaction to their marital dispute.
Police records confirm that Luchera was taken to Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital, where she is still receiving treatment. Her case highlights the alarming statistics of police officers committing or attempting suicide, with mental health being identified as a major cause.
Statistics from the 2018 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reveal that 421 police officers committed (or attempted) suicide in 2017. The World Health Organisation's report, Depression and other Common Mental Disorders, also shows that 4.4% of the overall Kenyan population suffered depression in 2015, ranking Kenya as the sixth most depressed country in Africa.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated domestic violence and sexual abuse problems across the country, adding to the mental health concerns of police officers.
