A police recruit has died after collapsing during a training session at the General Service Unit field campus in Magadi, Kajiado County, adding to growing concern over deaths reported in police and military training institutions since December 2025.
Police said the recruit, identified as Cheme Chombo Cheme, collapsed on Saturday while undergoing a recruit course at the GSU Field Campus in Magadi. Officers at the training ground said he suddenly lost consciousness during the session. He was quickly rushed to Magadi Hospital where doctors tried to stabilize him before referring him to Kenyatta National Hospital for further treatment. Sadly, he was pronounced dead on arrival at the referral hospital.
According to police, the family of the deceased was informed about the incident shortly after it happened. The body of the recruit is currently being preserved at the Kenyatta University mortuary as arrangements are made for a post-mortem examination. Authorities say the autopsy will help establish the exact cause of death and guide the next steps.
This incident brings the number of police recruits who have died during training since December 2025 to three. The earlier cases were reported at the Kiganjo Police Training Campus and at the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi.
On January 18, 2026, a recruit at the APTC A-Campus in Embakasi, Nairobi, died while receiving medical treatment. Police said the recruit had earlier complained of chest pain, dizziness, cough, and fatigue before his condition worsened and led to his death.
The recent deaths have raised questions about the health screening, training intensity, and emergency response systems in place at police colleges. While training is known to be demanding, families and members of the public have continued to call for stronger safety measures to protect recruits.
Similar concerns have also been raised within the military following the deaths of three Kenya Defence Forces recruits in January.
KDF confirmed that the incident occurred on January 29, 2026, during a routine endurance exercise at the Defence Forces Recruits Training School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. According to the military, the recruits developed medical complications while taking part in the scheduled activity.
KDF said that on-site medical personnel immediately administered first aid before evacuating the affected recruits to Eldoret Regional Hospital for specialized treatment.
Despite these efforts, the three recruits were pronounced dead. The military confirmed that the next of kin were formally notified and that support and assistance are being provided to the affected families during the mourning period.
In a statement, the Kenya Defence Forces expressed deep condolences to the families, loved ones, fellow recruits, and colleagues of the deceased. The military also announced that a thorough investigation has been launched in line with established procedures to determine what led to the incident.
Authorities say the findings from these investigations, both in the police and military cases, will be used to guide any measures needed to improve the safety, health monitoring, and welfare of recruits undergoing training across the country.
