Five suicides in a month sound alarm in Naivasha

Suicides involving middle-aged men keep increasing in Naivasha and depression and drug abuse blamed in harsh economic times.

The latest was a casual labourer who hanged himself in his single room in Mithuri estate.

His death raised to five the number of suicides in the past one month.

“The deceased used a rope to hang himself in his one-roomed house and we are concerned over an upsurge in suicides," Naivasha OCPD Samuel Waweru said. An inquest file has been opened.

A flower farm worker hanged himself last week in Kinamba estate.

John Kinuthia from Naivasha GBV clusters said most suicides are reported in urban areas.

He said three people committed suicide in Longonot last month due to unemployment and financial problems.

While calling on troubled people to speak about their trials, he said men are the most affected, suffering in silence.

“We are concerned by the rising number of suicide among men and we have launched a campaign where we are encouraging them to speak out,” he said.

Getting men to talk about their feelings is difficult.

Meanwhile, police in Naivasha have arrested four suspects believed to be behind a series of highway robberies along the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu road in the last three months.

The officers recovered a truck of milk and part of the cargo which had been stolen along the busy road over the weekend.

In the last couple of weeks, highway robberies along the highway have increased. Police say some drivers are colluding with robbers.

Last month, police recovered two trucks of sugar and coffee stolen from the driver while in transit from Uganda to the Mombasa.

The OCPD said the four would be charged.

Waweru said they had been connected to another highway robbery in Machakos where a trader lost goods worth millions of shillings.

“We have managed to recover the truck and part of the milk that was stolen and the four suspects are on their way to court,” he said.

(Edited by V. Graham)