Prison warden dies by suicide at Kingongo, Nyeri
Detectives are investigating an incident where a prison warden was found dead after a suspected suicide at the Nyeri GK Medium Prison, Kingongo.
The incident happened on Christmas Eve and saw constable Francis Njuguna Chomba, 31 hang himself, police and prisons officials said.
His body was found hanging on a roof truss with a nylon string tied around his neck. The motive was not established.
He was found dead by a relative on Wednesday evening at the staff quarters Block A.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.
The officer had not shown any signs of stress to warrant the move, the colleagues said.
This is the latest such incident to happen and is affecting prisons officers.
Many have died as a result of suicide in a trend that is attributed to stress at work.
Officials say like the police, they are generally on the receiving end of all community problems.
They are expected to maintain law and order in very difficult situations, besides putting their lives at risk.
Over the years, a spike in deaths in the service has been linked to trauma.
The World Health Organisation says such cases are attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, legal difficulties and financial difficulties.
Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder.
The government says efforts are being made to address the menace.
Police said there were at least five other separate suicide incidents that were reported on Wednesday alone.
The incidents are under probe, police said.
Suicide incidents have been on the rise in the country amid calls on authorities to address the trend. Most victims are men, statistics show.
Meanwhile, police in Rhonda, Nakuru County are investigating an incident where a girl aged eight was found dead in a house. The suspected assailant who is believed to be a Tanzanian escaped the scene. The motive of the murder was not immediately established, police said.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.