- His sister Rhoda Khavochi lamented that he couldn’t withstand the pains on the three occasions he attempted to take his life and was rescued by neighbours.
- The deceased engaged in menial work for a living and lived alone.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
A 49-year-old man has died by suicide after jumping into a river in Lugari.
The family said he had earlier complained of severe toothaches and attempted to commit suicide thrice because he had no money to visit a dentist.
His sister Rhoda Khavochi said that he couldn’t withstand the pains on the three occasions he attempted to take his life and was rescued by neighbours.
Khavochi said that the neighbours locked her brother in his house and kept an eye on the house for three days but when he got a chance to escape from the house, he ran towards the Sossian River that borders his land and threw himself into the river.
She said her brother’s lifeless body was retrieved from the river through efforts by villagers and local divers before reporting the incident to Turbo police station.
The incident occurred in Sossian village, Lugari subcounty on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased engaged in menial work for a living and lived alone.
His two children aged 8 and 6 stay with one of his sisters.
A neighbour Kelly Mulinya said that villagers were shocked that the deceased had decided to take his life because of a toothache that is curable.
“We had tried to save him three times but we are disappointed he has decided to take his life in such a cruel manner,” they said.
The area village elder Abraham Shamala said apart from complaining of severe toothaches, the deceased looked mentally disturbed and he might have died out of depression.
“He was the sole breadwinner who was taking care of his elderly and ailing mother though he looked depressed before taking his life,” Shamala said.
Lugari subcounty police commander Bernard Ngungu confirmed the incident.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
“Our officers are investigating the matter because it is strange,” Ngungu said.
The body was taken to Kimbilio funeral home in the neighbouring Uasin Gishu county.
Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man who had been hired to prune tree branches died after being electrocuted at Mukunga village in Likuyani subcounty on Wednesday morning.
He was pruning trees that are near a power line when the incident occurred.
An eye witness said the deceased was pruning the last tree when he cut a branch that fell on the lines electrocuting before he fell.
“I just saw flames of fire on the top of the trees followed by screams then he fell. When I reached the scene I found him bleeding from the nose and together with passersby we tried to administer first aid but he died almost immediately,” the witness who declined to be named said.
The matter was reported to the police station.
The body was removed to Cherengany mortuary.