KU student dies by suicide in Bungoma village

A fourth-year student at Kenyatta University was found dead in a house after a suspected suicide incident in the Marrel area, Bungoma County.

Police said the body of the deceased identified as Ian Ngahu, 24 was hanging in his parents’ maize store.

The body was hanging on a sisal rope that had been tied around his neck after the weekend incident.

No suicide note was recovered and the motive is yet to be established, police said.

The body with no visible injuries was moved to Bungoma County Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem.

The incident was the latest to be reported in a worrying trend.

In Kitengela, Kajiado County, a 13-year-old boy died by suicide in his father’s house.

Police who visited the scene said the boy used a bed sheet to hang himself on a truss in the house.

The motive of the incident was not immediately known and the body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and investigations.

In Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, one Hillary Kiprotich, 23 died by suicide on a tree in the Gataka area.

The body was found hanging in the house with a belt tied around the neck.

Police said they were called to the scene and picked up the body to the mortuary pending autopsy.

In Homabay, a 14-year-old died by suicide in Kibanga village.

She was a class six pupil at Wiga Primary School.

Police said she hanged herself on a tree using a rope.

No suicide note was recovered and the motive is yet to be known, police said.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy.

Police say the trend of suicide incidents has been on the rise. At least two incidents are reported daily.

The government says they have put in place mechanisms to address the menace.

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

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