Embakasi man in hospital after two suicide attempts

A 42-year-old man is fighting for his life at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after he attempted suicide twice in Akila estate, Embakasi area.

The man according to neigbours and police first had an altercation with his wife before locking the doors and setting the house on fire on Tuesday, December 13.

He was, however, saved from the fire. This is after neighbours who saw smoke billowing from the house rushed to try and rescue the couple.

Police said they received reports of a fire incident but by the time they got to the scene, neighbours and good Samaritans had already put out the fire.

But in a twist of events, the man who had already sustained burns, overpowered those who had come to rescue them and jumped off the sixth floor.

He miraculously survived but sustained serious injuries. Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said they had established the man was on a suicide mission after the family feud.

“During the incident, it was established that the 42-year-old man wanted to commit suicide and when members of the public rescued them from the fire where they had sustained serious burn injuries, he, however, overpowered them and then jumped over from the sixth floor to the ground and sustained serious injuries,” he said.

He was rushed to KNH in critical condition, while his wife, 38, was taken to Shalom Hospital, Athi River in fair condition. Property of unknown value was destroyed in the fire incident.

This is the latest attempted suicide incident to be reported. Police say cases of suicide are on the rise.

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.

WHO rates suicide as a serious global public health issue that is among the top 20 leading causes of death worldwide.