•The train honked at him as it approached and as he crossed oblivious of the danger in vain.
•A driver of the goods train said he knocked down the deceased at Mtindwa area as he raced to the Nairobi Railways station.
Image: THE STAR
A tragic incident unfolded along the Nairobi-Ruiru railway line when a man lost his life after being struck by a speeding train.
The victim, who was wearing earphones, failed to perceive the approaching train, resulting in a fatal collision, according to police reports.
Despite the train sounding its horn as a warning, the man, oblivious to the imminent danger, continued to cross the railway line.
The impact was severe, causing him to be knocked off and dragged several meters.
He was knocked off and dragged meters away in the December 6 incident, police and witnesses said.
A driver of the goods train said he knocked down the deceased at Mtindwa area as he raced to the Nairobi Railways station.
He died on the spot before the body was moved to the mortuary pending identification and autopsy.
Officials say such incidents are common and discourage even pedestrians against using earphones while on roads.
In a separate incident, a man died by suicide after jumping from Juja Flyover onto Thika Super Highway.
Police officers rushed to the scene and found the body of the deceased Dennis Gatwiri aged 25 lying on the Super Highway.
It was alleged that the deceased was standing at the flyover and suddenly jumped onto the Super Highway and died instantly.
No suicide note was recovered and the motive is yet to be known, police said.
The body was transferred to the mortuary for autopsy and further procedural formalities.
The unsettling rise in suicide cases has become a concerning trend, prompting calls for concerted efforts to address the root causes.
According to the World Health Organization, factors contributing to such incidents include unemployment, academic failures, legal issues, financial difficulties, bullying, a history of suicide attempts, family history of suicide, alcoholism, substance misuse, depression, and bipolar disorder.
The urgency to tackle this alarming issue is underscored by the complex interplay of these various factors.