A wave of tragic suicides across Kenya has once again brought mental health concerns to the forefront, with at least three men reported dead by suicide in separate incidents this week.
In Kithiamio village, Mwala, Machakos County, a 45-year-old man ended his life after setting his house ablaze. The man had reportedly quarreled with his wife, who subsequently left their home with the children. Days later, he set fire to their three-roomed house, destroying everything inside, before hanging himself on a mango tree within the compound. Residents woke up to find the house reduced to ashes and his body hanging outside. Nothing was salvaged from the inferno. His body was taken to the mortuary for a postmortem.
In another heartbreaking case, a private security guard based in Kayole, Nairobi, was discovered dead in his home by his daughter. The 42-year-old had hanged himself using a rope tied to the bedroom window grill. A day before the incident, he had told his daughter it would be the last time she would see him. According to police, he appeared deeply depressed. A letter found in his pocket was addressed to the human resource manager at his workplace, requesting four days’ leave to attend a cousin’s funeral. The body was also moved to the mortuary for examination.
Meanwhile, in Timau, Meru County, a 27-year-old man was found hanging from a tree outside his home. His family revealed he had previously attempted suicide. He had only been married for four months, and the reasons behind the act remain unclear.
These incidents add to the growing number of suicide cases in Kenya, many involving men. According to health experts, the rise in suicides can be linked to various social and psychological stressors such as unemployment, domestic conflicts, academic pressures, legal troubles, and financial burdens. Other contributing factors include mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and a history of suicide in the family.
While the government acknowledges the mental health crisis, more targeted interventions, community support systems, and public awareness campaigns are needed. Suicide prevention remains a complex issue, and urgent attention is required to reverse the troubling trend of rising suicide cases in Kenya.
