University student dies by suicide in his house in Mwiki

FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE

The body of a university student was found hanging in his room after he had died by suicide in Mwiki, Kasarani, Nairobi.

The deceased was a third-year student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology who was pursuing financial engineering.

The body of Cliff Asmund Oroko, 22 was found hanging on a wall that borders a local chief’s camp on January 20, 2026. Police said a suicide note was found in his pocket explaining the mission. Police said the note explained the deceased’s wishes after he died. Other details were not provided. The student lived alone in the house. His kin were informed of the tragedy, police said on Wednesday.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.

Police said the incident was the latest in a series that were reported on Tuesday January 20 alone. Up to five suicide incidents were reported and they are all pending under probe, police said.

In Itabua, Embu County, one Silas Kamau, 58 drowned in a plastic water tank in a suicide mission. The victim was a psychiatric patient in the area. The body was removed from the family water tank and moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.

In Githioro, Nakuru County, one Anna Waithera, 48 died by suicide in her room. The motive was not established, police said. The body was moved to the mortuary pending other procedures. Suicide cases have been on the rise amid efforts to address the menace.

Most of the victims are men, statistics show.

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.