The family of Police Constable Harrison Mugo is asking the Kenyan government for money and support to help them after his sad death. Mugo, who worked at Buruburu Police Station in Nairobi, died by suicide after a meeting with his bosses at the National Police Service (NPS).
Mugo, who was 38 years old, had been very sad for three years since his son, Samuel, died in a car accident during a school trip to Nanyuki in 2022. The loss of his 12-year-old son broke his heart, and he struggled to cope.
Judy Wambui, Mugo’s wife, said her husband was never the same after Samuel’s death. “He would come home and talk about our son—how he loved football and wanted to be a pilot,” she said. Mugo started drinking alcohol to deal with his pain, which worried his friends at work. They tried to help him by suggesting he talk to someone about his feelings, but the sadness was too much, and he ended his life at the police station.
Now, Wambui is facing big problems. She has two children, ages 10 and 15, to take care of, but she’s been told she can’t get her husband’s pension because he died by suicide. Wambui, who works part-time sewing clothes, says it’s hard to pay for things like food, rent, and school fees. “Harrison worked hard for Kenya,” she said. “He was hurting, but he still did his job. Why can’t we get help now?”
The family’s struggle has made people question how the NPS supports its officers. Many say police officers need better help for their mental health. “Officers deal with tough things every day—crime, long hours, and personal problems,” said Dr. Miriam Kaniaru, a counselor in Nairobi. “If we don’t help them with their feelings, more families will suffer like Mugo’s.”
Wambui wants the government to change its rules. She thinks families of officers who die, even by suicide, should get money to help them. She also suggested a special fund to support police families in tough times. “My kids lost their dad, and now we’re losing our home,” she said. “This isn’t fair. Other police families shouldn’t go through this.”
People on social media are supporting the family, using #JusticeForMugo to share their thoughts. Many Kenyans are upset and want the NPS to do more. “Police officers are people too,” said Peter Ng’ang’a, a community leader. “They need help, not judgment.”
The NPS has not said much about Mugo’s case or the family’s requests. Some say they are talking about improving mental health help for officers, but nothing has changed yet. For now, Wambui and her kids depend on help from friends and neighbors to pay for basic needs.
The family’s lawyer, Mercy Kamau, is working to ask the government to look at Mugo’s case again. She believes his death was connected to the stress of his job and should be treated as a work-related loss. “This is a sad story, but it can lead to change,” Kamau said. “We want a system that cares for police officers and their families.”
Mugo’s death has shown that the NPS needs better ways to help officers with their mental health and support their families. Wambui hopes her family’s pain will push the government to make things better for others.
