Tragedy as UoN medical student found dead in suspected suicide

He was a fifth year medical student.

In Summary
  • His body was found at the main hall residence long after he had died on Monday, September 2 evening, police said.
  • WHO rates suicide as a serious global public health issue that is among the top 20 leading causes of death worldwide.
STAR ILLUSTRATION
STAR ILLUSTRATION

A medical student at the University of Nairobi was found dead in a case of suspected suicide.

The body of Collins Kiprop Kosgei, 29,  a fifth-year medical student, was found at the main hall residence long after he had died on Monday, September 2 evening, police said.

His head was found covered with a nylon paper.

It was established that in the nylon paper, there was a small gas cylinder, which was tied with a shoelace around his neck.

He was alone at the time of the incident.

His colleagues stumbled on the body and informed security.

No suicide note was recovered at the scene and the motive is yet to be established.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and other investigations.

Kilimani police boss Ben Kobia said they are yet to establish the motivation behind the tragedy.

He added police are investigating the incident.

“It is simply tragic and a team is looking into it,” he said.

The incident was among four suicide incidents reported to police on Monday amid a push to address the trend.

In Nduma village, Wanguru, Kirinyaga County, the body of one Danson Robui Kabingu, 51 was found hanging on a tree with a rope tied around his neck.

Police said no suicide note was recovered and the motive is yet to be known.

In Tala, Matungulu, Machakos County, one Stanley Mutua Kitheka died after taking a substance suspected to be poison.

The man had been rushed to a local hospital where he died while being attended to.

The motive of the incident is yet to be known.

At the Hulugho stores area of Garissa township, the body of an unknown person was found hanging on a rope.

Police visited the scene and found the body of an unknown male adult hanging on a verandah with a manila rope tied around the neck.

No suicide note was found at the scene and the body was moved to Garissa County Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting identification and postmortem examination.

Police say cases of suicide are on the rise in the country.

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

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.

WHO rates suicide as a serious global public health issue that is among the top 20 leading causes of death worldwide.

Kenya ranks position 114 among the 175 countries with the highest suicide rates.

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