logo
ADVERTISEMENT

Man torches his house, dies by suicide in Mwala, Machakos

He had quarrelled with his wife, who left his home.

image
by CYRUS OMBATI

News08 August 2025 - 07:10
ADVERTISEMENT

In Summary


  • Police said the incident happened in Kithiamio village and saw one Raphael Mutune, 45, set his house on fire before he hanged himself on a mango tree.
  • His family had left the home days earlier following a domestic dispute, police and the relatives said

Crime scene./FILE

A man torched his house before he died by suicide in his compound in Mwala, Machakos County.

Police said the incident happened in Kithiamio village and saw one Raphael Mutune, 45, set his house on fire before he hanged himself on a mango tree.

His family had left the home days earlier following a domestic dispute, police and the relatives said.

It was then that on Wednesday, he set the three-roomed house on fire before hanging himself within the compound.

The locals woke up to find the house flattened by the fire and the body hanging out there. There was nothing that was salvaged from the house, police said.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy.

Elsewhere, police are investigating an incident where a private security guard with an international security firm died by suicide in his house in Kayole, Nairobi.

Police said Patrick Onguso, 42, used a rope to hang himself in his house on Wednesday, August 6.

The body was discovered by the deceased man’s daughter.

He had hanged himself on the window grill where the body was hanging in the bedroom.

The man had earlier on Tuesday told the daughter it would be the last time she would see him, and he looked depressed.

Police said they searched his pocket and recovered a letter addressed to the human resource manager at the firm seeking permission for four days' leave to attend a funeral of his cousin.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and investigations.

Elsewhere in Timau, Meru County, a 27-year-old man died by suicide in his compound in a tragedy.

Police said the body of Boniface Kimathi was found hanging from a tree outside the home long after the incident on Wednesday.

The rope was tied around his neck. The family said the man had earlier attempted suicide and was only married for four months.

The motive of the incident is yet to be known. The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy.

Suicide cases have been on the rise amid efforts to address the menace.

Most of the victims are men, statistics show.

The World Health Organisation says such cases are attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, legal difficulties and financial difficulties.

Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder.

The government says efforts are being made to address the menace.

Related Articles

ADVERTISEMENT