Taita Taveta county health officer found dead in his house

Taita Taveta County Government Public Health Officer was on Tuesday found dead in his house in Taita Hills.

Police said the body of the officer attached to Nyache Dispensary in Taita Sub County was found by his colleagues on the bed.

Taita Sub County Police Commander Onesmus Kombe confirmed and said the deceased body was taken to Wesu Sub County Hospital mortuary.

The police commander said the deceased did not report to duty in the morning, prompting his colleagues to look for him.

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Mr Kombe said the deceased’s colleague found the door locked from inside and decided to break it.

“The deceased’s colleague broke the door only to find his body lying on the bed. They alerted police, who arrived and took the body to the mortuary, awaiting a postmortem examination,” said the police officer.

Kombe said investigations into the incident have been launched as reports emerge that the deceased had been an alcoholic addict.

“We mourn our departed colleague who has been performing his duties well,” said one of the public health officials in the area.

Other reports said the deceased and his colleagues had a party at a local joint in the town before they parted ways.

The reports indicate that the deceased retired to his house, only for his body to be found.

The incident comes as cases of alcohol-related deaths continue to hit the public service. The county has so far lost dozens of county staff and teachers, among others, linked to economic stress, alcoholism and mental illness.

“Cases of teachers engaging in excessive alcoholism have become rampant. 34 teachers have been affected, and we have so far lost two recently. We require urgent rehabilitation of those affected,” noted one of the Kuppet union officials.

“We have started the process of rehabilitation, and so far two are out of rehabilitation after undergoing the process. Unfortunately, the two went back to alcoholism,” the official stated.

The union official said they have openly opened up because if they continue hiding the mess, then teachers will continue dying of alcoholism.

“There must be concerted efforts to address the vice, as this has badly affected the teaching profession and quality service delivery to Kenyans, added the union official.