Grief as father of 5 commits suicide

Grief struck a village in Nyaru location on Tuesday when a 49-year-old man committed suicide by shortly after sending her children out of the house.

The deceased, who had been battling metal illness for some time, ended his life by hanging himself in his room using a leso.

Confirming the suicide, Nyaru Chief Silas Kigen said that the incident happened in Kameston village in Kipsaina. Kigen confirmed that the deceased had been struggling with mental illness, adding that he had improved in the recent past after receiving treatment.

The Chief also said that the deceased, who left behind five children, had been struggling to support the family financially. Neighbors confirmed this statement, adding that the family had been going through a rough time because they lived in abject poverty.

The body of the deceased has been taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.

There have been numerous incidences of suicide in the recent past, with the most recent being that of Kirigo Secondary School’s principal, Murimi Ngure.

The 53-year-old committed suicide after he reportedly found out that his wife was having an affair.

In mid-December and Eldoret man murdered his wife and committed suicide over a bride price dispute. The gory incident, which took place in Kipkaren, was sparked off when the family of the women demanded for 5 cows as bride price.

Barely three months before the December incident, a similar crime took place in the same Kipkaren area. Maurice Mutamanu murdered his pregnant wife, Renny Ongachi, by stabbing her three times in the stomach after he was allegedly quarreled his wife’s family for taking long to clear up the dowry.

Suicide and mental illness

According to metal health expert Kevin Caruso, “Over 90% of people who commit suicide are struggling with a form of mental illness at the time of their death. And the most common mental illness is depression. Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 800, 000 people commit suicide annually with many of these individuals aged between 15 and 29.

According to a 2012 study conducted by the WHO, 15 or more people out of a 100, 000 population (0.00015%) commit suicide in Kenya. The map below shows the global suicide rates, as per the 2012 study, which was published in 2014.

Ground reporting by Elijah Cherutich