Embu: Catholic Church introduces chaplaincy, counselling to police amid rising suicide

The Catholic Church in Embu will offer counselling services to law enforcement officers in a bid to curb the rising cases of murders and suicide in the police force.

Bishop Paul Kariuki of the Catholic Diocese of Embu on Sunday said the church will hold a series of seminars to also give spiritual nourishment to the officers.

“Ni vizuri sana tuangalie maafisa wetu wanafasa kazi kwa hali gumu kwa hivyo ni vizuri muda kwa muda tuwe na workshop na seminors na guidance and counselling ndio tusije kuwalaumu aty yule afisa alitumia bunduki vibaya na may be huyo polisi alikuwa amesongwa na mawazo,” said the bishop.

While acknowledging that police have a big task in keeping law and order, Bishop Kariuki urged society to support them and comfort those in distress.

He spoke during the uniformed forces’ thanksgiving prayers for officers in the eastern region, at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Embu town.

The annual prayers provide uniformed officers to mingle and have time together with the other members of the society.

Embu County DCIO James Githinji hailed the initiative, saying there is need for a joint approach to tackle police officers’ welfare.

“Initialy kuna ile kitu kwa kimombo inaitwa suicidal mentality kila mtu alikuwa anafanya kazi peke yake lakini vile sasa tumeleta watu pamoja kamati ya mipango tuko pamoja kwa hivyo inafanya tuwe pamoja sisi sote na tunaomba pamoja na chakula yenye tunapata tunagawanya pamoja,” he said.