The body of a police constable was found early Thursday morning along a rural road in Rarieda, Siaya County, sparking a police investigation into what appears to be a violent killing.

The officer’s remains were discovered near Rarieda Secondary School, just two kilometres from his assigned post. Deep wounds on his head and upper body suggested a brutal assault.

The grim find was made by a fellow officer along the Ndori–Luanda Kotieno road shortly before dawn. Authorities say a motorcycle, believed to belong to the deceased, lay next to the body.

Rarieda Sub-County Police Commander and detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) quickly arrived at the scene and began combing the area for evidence.

“He had deep cut wounds that strongly indicate foul play,” said a senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the press.

Initial reports suggest the officer had earlier escorted a colleague and a third person, before heading back towards a nearby shopping centre. His motorcycle apparently ran out of fuel on the return trip, prompting him to phone for help.

The colleague who responded to the call told investigators that he found the officer already dead, lying by the roadside.

Police have since transferred the body to Lwak Mission Hospital Mortuary. A postmortem is expected to determine the precise cause of death.

The killing is the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting police officers in Kenya. Just weeks ago, a plain-clothes officer in Thika was fatally shot during what was meant to be a routine inspection of boda bodas. Another deadly ambush in June left one officer dead and two others injured during a night patrol in Nakuru County.

Residents in Rarieda expressed shock over the killing and urged authorities to improve security, not just for civilians but for officers on duty.

As of Friday morning, no arrests had been made. Police said the investigation is ongoing.