Alarm as Kirinyaga records seven suicide cases in a week

Kirinyaga county's gender department has raised the alarm over the rise in mental illness cases after recording seven suicide cases within one week.

Gender CEC Millicent Nyawira said last Monday, she received seven cases including a ward administrator.

"The youth need to speak out because mental illness and suicide have become an issue to many, the majority being men," she said.

Nyawira called upon churches to actively join efforts to address mental illness.

"I call upon the church leaders to also get involved, speak to our youths and people about mental health issues," she said.

The Gender CEC noted that counselling services are offered at the county referral hospital and the county government plans to set up a gender centre.

A ward administrator is suspected to have taken his own life, leaving a 30-page note on how his property should be shared.

The body of Inoi Ward MCA Samuel Macharia was found hanging in his house on January 15, 2024 after attempts to reach him on phone failed.

Assistant Chief Gerald Nyaga said workers at Macharia's farm were alarmed when he failed to show up.

The MCA's workers stumbled upon his body when they went to his house after failing to reach him on phone.

They alerted the area chief who informed police officers from Kerugoya.

The assistant chief said Macharia had not shown any sign of distress when he was last seen in the village.

Area MCA Fredrick Maina urged residents not to take their lives saying there are other avenues to address any pressing matters.

"Young people or men please do not take your lives we have avenues where issues can be addressed, "Maina said.

The body was removed to the Kerugoya morgue.