Bungoma police probe death of varsity student in suspected suicide

Detectives are investigating an incident in which a university student was found dead after suspected suicide in a village in Bungoma.

The incident happened in a house in Mwibale village, police said.

The student was identified as Benson Wafula, a third-year student at Lakeside University.

His body was discovered Saturday, July 26 evening hours after he had died by suicide.

The body was hanging on a truss at his parent’s house with a rope tied around his neck.

The motive of the incident is yet to be known, police said.

The body was removed to Bungoma County Referral Hospital Morgue for postmortem examination.

Police visited the scene as part of the probe into the tragedy.

Elsewhere in Ngarua, Laikipia County, one Jane Mulavi Gichuki, 52 died by suicide.

Police said the incident happened in Matuiko village.

Police officers visited the scene and found the deceased dangling with sisal rope tied around her neck on one of the roof rafters of her bedroom.

A suicide note was found at the scene but the contents were not immediately made public.

The scene was processed and the body was removed to Sipili Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem.

Police said these are the latest cases of suicide to be reported in a worrying trend.

Cases of suicide have been on the rise amid calls to address the trend.

Detectives are investigating the cases to allow the families to bury their loved ones.

Police say the trend has been worrying and increasing as up to two cases are reported daily.

Most victims are men, police statistics show. The government has set in motion strategies to address the menace.

The World Health Organisation says such cases are attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, legal difficulties and financial difficulties.

Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder.