TRAGIC FAMILY MURDER-SUICIDE SHOCKS HOMA BAY COUNTY

Homa Bay County is reeling in shock following a heartbreaking incident where a police officer took his own life after allegedly poisoning his two sons and a nephew.

The officer, David Okebe Goga, had returned to his home just three weeks prior from his station in Marsabit. According to police reports, Goga is suspected to have poisoned the three children—all aged between five and six—before hanging himself inside his home.

His lifeless body was discovered on Sunday afternoon.

Confirming the incident, Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem stated that initial investigations point toward poisoning as the likely cause of death for the children. The scene was cordoned off and a thorough investigation is ongoing to establish the exact sequence of events and motive behind the incident.

Goga’s brother, Fred Ochieng, revealed that the officer had been grappling with marital problems and job-related stress, factors that may have pushed him to the brink. Ochieng shared that although Goga seemed troubled, he gave no visible signs of being in emotional turmoil during their last conversation just a day before the tragedy.

A suicide note, reportedly addressed to Goga’s father-in-law, shed more light on his mental state. In it, he lamented the pressure surrounding his wife’s education, feeling that he was being overlooked in family decisions. He also cited **work-related pressure, saying he had missed a duty report deadline and felt threatened by a senior officer, a situation that had left him feeling cornered.

In a deeply sorrowful twist, Goga left behind detailed burial instructions. He requested that he and the three children be wrapped in blankets, rather than placed in coffins.

This tragic event has stirred widespread grief and raised fresh concerns about the mental health and emotional well-being of law enforcement officers, who often face intense stress and trauma with limited access to psychosocial support.

As investigations continue, the community and law enforcement fraternity mourn the loss of four lives and reflect on the urgent need for better mental health awareness and intervention systems, especially for those in high-stress professions.