A 55-year-old man died by suicide in Kangundo, Machakos County.

Albanus Kioko is said to have taken his own life on Friday at his home in Kayangii village in Kitwii subdistrict in Kangundo district.

Machakos District police commander Patrick Lobolia said the incident was reported to the Kangundo police station by one of the relatives of the deceased.

“The man’s body was found hanging from the rafters of his house in the early hours of Friday. Lobolia said he committed suicide using a rope at an unknown time on Thursday night before his body was found by a close relative on Friday morning.

Lobolia spoke to the Star on Friday at his office in Machakos town.

He said the relative reported that he came across the body after entering the deceased’s house on that fateful day.

Lobolia expressed concern over the increasing suicide rates in the district, stating that Kathiani district is leading in such incidents, followed by Kangundo, Masinga, Yatta, Matungulu, Machakos and Mwala, while Athi River sub-county reported the least number of suicide cases.

He said that the majority of those who ended their lives by suicide were children as young as 8 years old, teenagers, and men and women between the ages of 30 and 50.

Lobolia said the number of men committing suicide in the district is higher than women.

He noted that most of the victims did not leave a suicide note.

The police chief said his investigations revealed that some suicides were due to family relationships, property or inheritance disputes, among other undisclosed reasons.

Drug and substance abuse may also contribute to the incidents, he said.

“If someone feels like life is becoming unbearable for them, let that person share their situation with a close friend and they can get help,” Lobolia said.

Lobolia said he was told that some of those who committed suicide had threatened to do so before.

“Sometimes they tell their parents that they will end their lives by committing suicide. “So if you hear someone threatening to kill themselves, advise that person to seek help from relevant authorities or people, including counselors, this could save a life,” he said.

He said that as a police force, through public meetings, they sensitize communities on the need to protect lives and avoid crimes such as suicide.

“The numbers are alarming, so intervention from local elders, leaders and the community is needed. They need to find out why the suicide rate is high and make recommendations or find a cure for it,” Lobolia said.