A man has reportedly died by suicide in Mlolongo, Machakos county.
Athi River East Subcounty Police Commander Anderson Mbae said the unknown man is suspected to have ended his own life by hanging himself using a sisal rope along the Nairobi – Mombasa Highway at Mlolongo Primary School’s bridge early Monday.
Mbae said the matter was reported to Mlolongo police station as a suicide incident report.
“It occurred on the night of March 10, 2025, at an unknown time on the Mlolongo primary school’s footbridge within the Mlolongo area and reported by a member of the public that while heading to work, he spotted a person who was dangling on a rope beneath the said footbridge having died by suicide,” Mbae told the Star on the phone on Monday.
He said police officers visited the scene and established that the unknown African male adult aged about 43 years had allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself using a sisal rope.
The police boss said the body had no visible injuries apart from the strained neck.
According to police, the man left behind a suicide note.
“No identification documents were found, but a suicide note was traced,” Mbae said.
The officers processed the scene and removed the body to the City mortuary pending identification and an autopsy.
Mbae said they had launched investigations into the incident.
The incident occurred at a time when police have raised concerns about the high number of suicide incidents in Machakos County.
Machakos County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said at least one case of suicide incident is reported in the county on a daily basis.
“There is a high rate of suicide cases across the Machakos county with Kathiani Subcounty on the lead. Other subcounties like Kangundo, Matungulu, Mwala, Yatta, Masinga, Machakos and Athi River also report such cases on worriedly high rates,” Lobolia told the Star.
Lobolia attributed the incidents to depression among locals urging members of the public to help deter such vices by talking to their friends and relatives.
He said those undergoing various challenges in life should speak out for assistance and those suffering from depression to seek the services of professional counselors.
“Women, men, elderly and children of as young as eight
years die by suicide in Machakos County, it’s that serious. The majority of the
cases are men though,” Lobolia said.
He said relationships, drugs and substance abuse, and family conflicts especially on land and inheritance were some of the causes
leading to suicides in the county according to their investigations.
