Tragedy as man dies by suicide in Machakos

Police in Athi River, Machakos County, are investigating an incident where a man reportedly died by suicide on Thursday.

Christopher Mutinda is said to have ended his own life by hanging on a tree at KMC village in Athi River location within Athi River Township, Machakos County.

Police said the deceased's body was found dangling on the tree when officers visited and processed the scene before removing it to the mortuary.

The matter was reported to the Athi River police station as a suicide incident on Thursday.

"The area assistant chief got notified by a village manager that a known male adult by the name Christopher Mutinda was found dead hanging on a tree. He reported the matter to this police station prompting an immediate response by the officers," a cop privy to the incident told the Star on Friday.

The police source said no suicide note was recovered from the scene.

The incident occurred barely a week after Machakos County police commander Patrick Lobolia raised concerns about what he termed increased suicide incidents in the county.

Lobolia noted that the Kathiani subcounty was leading in such incidents, followed by Kangundo, Masinga, Yatta, Matungulu, Machakos, and Mwala, while Athi River subcounty reported the least number 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.