The Deputy Principal at Kagumo Teachers College, located in Nyeri County, hanged himself on Thursday the 5th of August 2021 while in hospital undergoing treatment for ingested poison.
According to Nyeri Police boss Paul Kuria, Lecturer Cyrus Ndirangu committed suicide by hanging using a piece of clothing he obtained in the hospital after he had been rushed to the hospital to receive medication.
Besides, the Deputy Principal is said to have also ingested poison while in his house on the evening of Wednesday evening the 4th of August, 2021.
“His colleagues rushed him to hospital after he took unknown poison. However, he sneaked out at night while undergoing treatment and hanged himself on the cloth line,” stated Kuria.
According to Paul Kuria, the circumstances under which the lecturer hanged himself have not yet been known and investigations are ongoing.
“Already, we have sent officers at the facility to investigate, we are waiting for a report on the same from our officers,” he said.
Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the country, suicide cases have been on the rise ever since. It was hoped the prolonged period families were together during the lockdown could bring people together since they were to spend more time together.
However, the new normal seems to have caused more harm than damage with suicide cases seemingly related to the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.
According to a Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) report, more than 483 people committed suicide in three months. This duration is from March to June 2021.
The report mirrors the bigger situation across the country with a lot more people have committed suicide than the indicated number.
“The number of suicides recorded is at an all-time high. The numbers have never been recorded before. This is not only alarming but calls for urgent remedial measures,” stated DCI boss George Kinoti.
As compared to 2019, the data represented a sharp increase. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), in 2019, 193 cases of suicide were reported.
Kenyans are implored to love themselves more and seek psychological help if they face seemingly difficult psychological situations.