NIS officer who killed self in Kilimani was battling depression, note reveals

Tom Adala, 54, an Assistant Director at the NIS, shot himself in the head and his body was found at his house on Kirichwa Road in Kilimani on Tuesday morning.

Adala's nephew found the body lying in the servant's quarters and immediately reported to Kilimani police station.

According to police, the nephew narrated that he last saw Adala on Monday at 10 pm and upon waking up on Tuesday he was startled when the household said that the deceased had not shown up for breakfast by 9 am.

Moments later, after efforts to find Adala were proving to be futile, he found a body lying in a pool of blood.

Officers who arrived at the scene found a pistol with a spent cartridge and a magazine with three rounds of ammunition.

Sources who spoke to the Nation said that a black notebook, the size of a pocket diary, was found in the main bedroom where Adala had inked a note dated June 2 which ended with "Nobody should be blamed for this."

Adala's colleagues noted that the deceased was battling challenges after separating from his wife and was even seeking treatment.

They added that he had been transferred to his new station as head of the Counter-Extremism Violence Unit which his colleagues say felt like a demotion.

"We visited him at home several times when he failed to report to work after the staff changes. Adala wanted to resign but we urged him to stay," said one officer.

Adala's body is lying at Lee Funeral Home.