Probe on after senior Kenya Prisons officer found dead inside his vehicle

The deceased, identified as 40-year-old Senior Superintendent of Prisons (SSP) Eric Kiarie Wainaina, was attached to the Central Region Headquarters in Nyeri.

According to police at Mugutha Police Station, a member of the public raised the alarm at around 10:30 AM after spotting a man lying unconscious inside a silver Nissan Wingroad. 

Mugutha Officer Commanding Station (OCS) led a team to the scene, where they discovered Wainaina unresponsive in the driver's seat with the door open. 

The incident drew a high-profile response from local security chiefs, including the Juja Sub-County Police Commander (SCPC), the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO), and senior prisons officials led by the Kiambu County Prisons Commander, alongside Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) detectives.

Inside the vehicle, detectives recovered Wainaina's driving licence, passport, mobile phone, and personal effects.

Investigators also found medical tablets used for treating hypertension, alongside empty water and alcohol bottles, highlighting a suspected battle with severe health complications. 

While official records document the scene's immediate physical evidence, sources close to the officer indicate that he had been battling deep personal struggles, including depression and severe alcohol dependence. 

He had reportedly undergone multiple rehabilitation attempts and had recently sought psychiatric assistance at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital after isolating himself from his family.

Bystanders noted that the senior officer was a frequent visitor to the specific spot where his vehicle was found. 

Following formal documentation by CSI Juja detectives, the body was moved to the Kenyatta University (KU) Referral Hospital Morgue for preservation pending an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.

When contacted for comment via a telephone interview, Juja Sub-County Police Commander (OCPD) Isaac Kombo confirmed the incident, stating that Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers based in Juja have actively taken up the matter to piece together the officer's final moments.