A tragic incident has shocked the residents of Red Soil village in Mwea East, Kirinyaga County, following the death of 19-year-old Rachael Mwihaki by suicide, just an hour after she called her father and elder sister, urging them to return home.
According to her sister, Regina Ng’endo, Rachael contacted her to report that their mother, Elizabeth Wakuthii, was contemplating taking her own life for unknown reasons and requested that she come home immediately.
Ng’endo recounted, “She called me asking me to come quickly because my mother wanted to commit suicide.
I told her I had no fare, but she sent some money. Sadly, when I arrived, I found my sister hanging from the bedroom ceiling.”
Ng’endo further revealed that her sister had also called their father, Peter Mwangi, to share the same concerns.
“My father had been away from my mother for five days. When he returned after my sister’s call, he found her body hanging.”
Local village in-charge Stephen Kimani stated that he contacted officers from Wang’uru Police Station, who responded promptly after villagers raised the alarm.
The family shared that Rachael had recently joined a local college in Ngurubani after completing her Form 4 education.
The Kirinyaga branch of the Counseling and Psychological Association, led by Chairman Kamau Muchira, expressed concern over the increasing number of suicides in the region.
Muchira emphasized the importance of addressing mental health issues to prevent further tragedy, noting, “It is very sad that this happened during Mental Health Awareness Month in May.”
The deceased’s body has been taken to Kibugi Funeral Home as investigations into the incident continue.
