Tragedy as KDF soldier dies by suicide in his house in Tassia, Nairobi

Detectives are investigating an incident where a Kenya Defence Forces soldier was found dead in his house after a suspected suicide in Tassia, Nairobi.

According to the military and police, senior private Gilbert Laboso was found dead in the house after he had allegedly hanged himself using a tie in his wardrobe.

The incident happened on Monday, May 26 morning. He was alone in the house then.

The wife told police and military personnel she had left the house for errands and when she came back in the afternoon, she found the man dead.

She added that the man had been battling depression.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and investigations

In April, a female KDF soldier died by suicide in her house in Kahawa Sukari, Nairobi.

Military and police said the body of Precious Mabonga, 24, was on April 24 found hanging on the metal bars of her bathroom.

She was based at the nearby Kahawa Barracks.

Such cases have been on the rise in the military amid efforts to contain the trend.

Like police officers, dozens of soldiers have died as a result of suicide in a trend that is attributed to stress at work.

Officials say police are generally on the receiving end of all community problems.

They are expected to maintain law and order in very difficult situations, besides putting their lives at risk.

Over the years, a spike in deaths in the service has been linked to trauma.

Five other suicide cases were reported on Monday.

The first incident was reported in Taita Taveta’s Soko Ya Zamani Mwatate, where the body of one Jackson Mwalungwa, 23, was found hanging in his house.

In Keumbu, Kisii County’s Nyamaningo village, a 37-year-old man died by suicide by hanging himself on a tree outside his house.

The body of Joel Marube was found hanging on the tree long after the incident.

In Kuria, Migori County, a man identified as Benson Nyamohanga, 40, died by suicide in his house using a piece of cloth.

The man had allegedly initially assaulted his wife over domestic issues before he hanged himself.

The wife told police she had collapsed and fallen unconscious from the beating when the husband proceeded to hang himself in the sitting room of their house.

In Ndeiya, Kiambu County, a 58-year-old man was found dead after a suspected suicide incident.

The body of Julius Waweru was discovered in his store in the compound after the suicide mission.

The motive of the incident is yet to be known.

In Mbooni, Makueni County, one Benson Kioko, 51, was found dead after a suspected suicide mission.

Police said the deceased was a teacher at Ndueni Primary School.

His body was found tied to the rafter of the brother's kitchen roof using a sisal rope.

The motive was not established.

The bodies were moved to the mortuaries pending autopsy.