Woman kill self over Sh9,000 merry-go round debt

A 23-year-old woman drowned after jumping into River Kuja, in Ongito village, Uriri, Migori County. 

Sylvia Aluoch plunged into the river on Thursday on her way home from a women group's meeting.

Police claim the group had threatened to auction her property over a Sh9,000 debt, but it was not clear if this pushed her to her death.

“The woman secured the loan from a Sacco and was under pressure to re-pay," said Uriri sub county police commander Peter Njoroge who added that the woman had attended the merry-go-round of Wabongo B Group.

She reportedly boarded a motorcycle to her home but alighted on the way.

“She had boarded a motorbike of one of the group members and she requested to alight and pick her shawl which had dropped. When the motorbike stopped she jumped into River Kuja,” Njoroge said. 

The officer noted that attempts to rescue the woman were futile since “the raging waters swept her downstream”.

“That was a small debt that never warranted such a weird action. I could have even chipped in and paid the money if I was approached over the matter,” said Njoroge.

The body has not been recovered.