Three suicide cases have so far been reported to have happened in the Kasarani area this year.
The latest is that of 23-year-old Jeff Mwathi's which happened on February 22 in Kasarani. Before the DCI investigated the case, the prevailing notion was that he had jumped from the 10th floor of an apartment building in a suicide case.
Police have now termed his death a murder case. Kenyans online are expressing concern about cases of suicide happening on balconies.
They are saying it's a serious public crisis that needs urgent intervention.
A girl Brenda Kawira is said to have died by suicide in the same area as well. It was alleged that on February 21, 2023, in Nairobi’s Kasarani estate at around 11:30 pm, Brenda Kawira, 29, jumped to her death.
Below are some comments from concerned Kenyans;
@CarteDenoh Kasarani wasee most wameanguka ni vile tu haijakuwa kwa media
@MxMwaniki Either something we don’t know is going on or we are not addressing issues around mental health enough.
@Ms_Wanza There’s a narrative
@Ligi_Soo Also lost a childhood friend same thing in kasa. Huko nyumba hazifai balcony
@lawrencefigh Ile anasa na peer pressure iko izo pande usipochunga utajiua Bana especially if you are in your 20s.
Kenya loses four people per day to suicide.
The World Health Organisation (WHO 2019) estimates Kenya’s age-standardized suicide rate to be 11.0 in 100,000.
However, there is a scarcity of data on suicide in Kenya. Mental illnesses are often associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicidal thoughts associated with depression lifetime prevalence is 7.9% while for other mental illnesses, it is 5-8%.
In 2022, the EHalth ministry released its suicide prevention strategy.
The goal of this suicide prevention strategy is to attain a 10% reduction in suicide mortality by the year 2026.
This Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021-2026, aims to reduce suicide mortality through the amendments of relevant legislative framework and policies for effective suicide prevention and development, and the implementation of a data system on suicide risk surveillance.
It also sets direction on improving access to mental health services including the establishment of suicide prevention helplines and integration of care at community and primary health levels.
Additionally, it will guide public education on suicide prevention and combat stigma.
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