This archive report was first published on 17 July 2021.
Caroline Kangogo, a 34-year-old police corporal, was found dead in her parents' home in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, on July 16, 2021.
According to police, Kangogo fatally shot herself in the head, but the circumstances surrounding her death have raised questions.
Some have pointed out that there was no blood spatter on the walls of the room where Kangogo allegedly took her life, and her legs were neatly crossed over each other, which seems inconsistent with the impact of a gunshot.
Messages on a feature phone believed to be Kangogo's, which were retrieved from the scene, offered a glimpse into her troubled life.
In the messages, Kangogo attributed her actions to depression caused by her former spouse, Richard Ng'eno, and others close to her.
Ng'eno, who is the scroll commandant in charge of the Marine Unit at the Kenya Coast Guard, said he was shocked by Kangogo's death and asked to be given time to process the events of the previous two weeks.
He added that their two children, an 11-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl, were safe but devastated by the news.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko offered to adopt Kangogo's children if her family was struggling to care for them.
According to the messages, Kangogo's marriage to Ng'eno was rocky, and she gradually descended into depression, which she blamed on her former spouse and others.
She allegedly attributed the killing of two men, John Ogweno and Peter Ndwiga, to her depression and said she had planned to harm her spouse but rescinded the decision after considering the impact on her children.
Police have planned a meeting with Kangogo's family to discuss postmortem arrangements and possible burial plans.
