Boy dies as mother survives suicide attempt

The death of a five-year-old boy, has once again brought to the fore underlying mental health challenges facing many families as suicide cases rise.

Athman Sora died after his mother Terry Wambui Kimari allegedly gave him a concoction of beauty products she had also taken in a suicide attempt.

The incident happened in Hazina Estate, Nairobi, on Sunday after the woman drank the concoction before sharing it with her son.

Wambui’s uncle James Murigi told police that his 23-year-old niece allegedly attempted to commit suicide. Mother and child were found unconscious and rushed to Balozi Hospital where Athman died while receiving treatment.

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Wambui was transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.

This comes as suicide cases were reported on the same day in Tharaka Nithi and Nyeri counties.

Pius Gitonga Nyaga allegedly died by suicide following alleged domestic row with his wife. 

The landlord, Nderu Muchoki, told police that he found Gitonga’s body hanging from the rafters of the roof in their rental house at Gatunga market in Tharaka Nithi.

At Munyu location in Kieni West, Nyeri County, 65-year-old Ruth Wangui Mwangi reportedly hanged herself. The body was discovered dangling from the roof of a store with a sisal rope around her neck. It was established that the woman who allegedly had mental problems and high blood pressure, had earlier attempted suicide by taking poison.

Rising suicide cases have been attributed to mental illness, financial, family and marital challenges.

Last week, four people died by suicide in Nairobi, Muranga, Nyeri, and Kilifi counties.

The body of Benson Mwangi Kabuiya, a resident of Tena estate, Nairobi, was found hanging from the rafters of his house. The 42-year-old hanged himself using a piece of cloth.

In Gishagi village, Muranga, 54-year-old Antony Karugu’s body was found dangling from a tree with a cable wire tied around the neck.

Francis Mwangi Ngunyi, 64, died by suicide in Gakima village, Mukurweini, Nyeri County. His body was found dangling from an avocado tree on his farm with a sisal rope around the neck.

And in Rabai of Kilifi, the partly decomposing body of 26-year-old Ramadhani Mkuzi Idi was found from the roof rafters of his house with a piece of cloth tied around his neck.

Last month, at least 13 people died by suicide within a span of four days, highlighting the urgent need for mental health awareness and support systems to prevent such tragedies.