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A 55-year-old man has died by suicide in Kangundo, Machakos County.
Albanus Kioko is said to have ended his own life at his house in Kayangii village of Kitwii sublocation in Kangundo subcounty on Friday.
Machakos County police commander Patrick Lobolia said the incident was reported to Kangundo police station by one of the deceased’s relatives.
“The man’s body was found dangling from his house’s rafters early Friday. He had used a rope to commit suicide at an unknown time on Thursday night before the body was discovered by one of his close relatives on Friday morning,” Lobolia said.
Lobolia spoke to the Star at his office in Machakos town on Friday.
He said the relative reported to have stumbled on the body after he broke into the deceased’s house on the fateful day.
Lobolia raised concerns over increased suicide rates in the county noting that Kathiani subcounty was leading in such incidents followed by Kangundo, Masinga, Yatta, Matungulu, Machakos, and Mwala, while Athi River subcounty reported the least numbers of suicide cases.
He said those who end their lives through suicides include children as young as eight years old, youth, women and men of all ages ranging between 30’s to 50’s being the majority.
Lobolia said more men were committing suicide in the county than women.
He noted that the majority of the victims left no suicidal notes.
The police chief said their investigations revealed that some of the suicide incidents were out of relationships, property or inheritance disputes in families, among other undisclosed reasons.
He said drug and substance abuse usage could also be contributing to the incidents.
“If someone feels that life has become unbearable for him or her, let the person share his plight with a close friend, he can get assistance,” Lobolia said.
Lobolia said some of those who commit suicide are said to have threatened to do so earlier.
“At times, they tell their parents that they would end their lives by suicide. So, if you hear anyone threatening to kill himself, advise the person to seek help from relevant authorities or persons including counsellors, this might save a life,” he said.
He said as a police service, they conduct communities’ sensitization on the need to protect lives and avoid engaging in such crimes as committing suicides through public meetings engagements.
“The numbers are worrying hence the need for intervention by local elders, leaders and the community. They should find out why the suicidal rate is high and advise or find a remedy on the same,” Lobolia said.