27-year-old Peter Njenga Muruga has lost his life in Nakuru’s Mwariki area on Tuesday morning, succumbing to fatal stab wounds inflicted by his lover in what appears to be a love triangle incident.
The lifeless body of Muruga was discovered on a sofa set, surrounded by a pool of blood, bearing visible stab wounds on the left arm and eye, according to police reports. Allegedly, the deceased had been romantically involved with one of the neighbours, sparking tensions among the two love birds.
The suspected assailant, identified as a female tenant, was conspicuously absent from the crime scene, prompting an intensive police investigation and an ongoing search for her whereabouts. Authorities aim to unravel the motive behind the tragic murder that has shaken the local community.
Simultaneously, the police are delving into four separate suicide cases reported on Monday, January 22, marking a concerning trend in the country.
The first case involved 40-year-old James Kiarie Gachiri, discovered hanging from the roof rafters in his house in Lari, Kiambu county, with no suicide note found.
In Githongo, Meru county, Phenious Koome Kirimi, aged 30, took his own life by hanging himself with a manila rope in his residence, again leaving no suicide note.
In Londiani, Kericho county, 23-year-old Collins Kipngetich, a casual laborer, tragically ended his life by throwing himself into a dam near a flower farm where he worked, with the motive remaining unknown.
Lastly, in Tambach, Elgeyo Marakwet’s Kiptilong location, Rodgers Kipchumba was found dead by suicide after escaping public arrest for engaging in an unnatural act with a cow. The bodies are currently in mortuaries pending investigations.
The escalating number of suicide cases in Kenya, with up to two reported daily, has become a growing concern for authorities. The World Health Organization attributes such incidents to factors like joblessness, academic pressures, legal difficulties, financial struggles, bullying, substance misuse, and mental health issues such as depression and bipolar disorder.
The WHO underscores suicide as a significant global public health problem, ranking Kenya 114th among the 175 countries with the highest suicide rates. As authorities grapple with these distressing incidents, there is a pressing need for increased awareness and support to address the root causes contributing to the rising suicide rates in the country.
