Nyeri county commissioner Mohammed Barre has raised concerns over the rising number of suicides in the county.
In April and May alone, 80 people took their lives, he said.
Barre said he suspects some of these deaths could be homicides made to look like suicide.
There could be people killing others, then making it look like it was suicide, especially due to land disputes, he said.
Barre urged police to conduct proper investigations into the deaths, especially their connection with land disputes.
The administrator said the number is fairly huge and if anyone is found to have taken part in the deaths, action will be taken against him or her.
Barre also urged residents to maintain peace during the electioneering period and only punish politicians whom they do not like by not voting for them in 9 August polls.
“Just maintain peace and ensure that you do not force us to apply force [to ensure there is peace]. We still have enough tear gas and sprays in our stores, but we do not want to use them unless we are forced to,” he said.
Barre spoke on Wednesday at DEB Muslim Primary School in Nyeri town during Madaraka Day celebrations.
Nyeri Central deputy county commissioner Joseph Mwangi said they have realised there are goons for hire in the area who are mostly hired by politicians to disrupt opponents' meetings and cause mayhem or confusion.
He warned that no one will be allowed to attend meetings with anything that looks like a weapon, including stones.
Mwangi said most of those hired are paid Sh500 and given alcohol to disrupt meetings. He said they will crash such groupings in the subcounty.
“The best thing you can do now is to form groups and approach us so that we can assist you on how to access youth fund, so that you can engage in income generating activities. But political hooliganism has no place in this subcounty,” he said.
Edited by A.N
