680 people died by suicide in Mt Kenya region last year- Gender CS Cheptumo

The Ministry of Gender has vowed to intensify efforts to address the rising cases of suicide and gender-based violence affecting men, women and children in the Mt Kenya region.

Gender Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo said 680 people died by suicide in the region between June last year and April this year, while 531 cases of gender-based violence were reported during the same period.

Kiambu, Nyeri and Murang’a counties recorded the highest number of cases, while Kirinyaga and Nyandarua also registered worrying trends, though at lower levels.

The alarming trend in the Mt Kenya region continues to raise concern after 531 cases of gender-based violence and abuse were reported between June last year and April this year.

Nyeri County led in cases involving violence against children with 93 incidents, followed by Kiambu with 87, Murang’a with 81, Kirinyaga with 75 and Nyandarua with 36 reported cases.

In cases involving violence against adults, especially rape, Kiambu recorded 23 cases, Nyeri 17, Murang’a 16, Kirinyaga 15, while Nyandarua recorded 10 cases.

Cheptumo linked the rise in violence against children in Nyeri, Murang’a and Tharaka Nithi counties to recent murder incidents involving children below 10 years.

These include the killing of two children whose bodies were found in a river in Gatanga, the murder of a Grade Four pupil in Tharaka Nithi whose body was later discovered in Mukothima, and the case of Travis Wanjohi in Karatina, Nyeri, who went missing for about a month before his dismembered body was found dumped in River Ragati.

On suicide cases in the Mt Kenya region, Cheptumo said 680 people have died by suicide since June last year, with Nyeri County alone recording 127 deaths through different methods.

Following the meeting, the ministry, together with the Office of the Regional Commissioner for Central Kenya, held a special forum in Nyeri County aimed at finding solutions to the growing challenges affecting families and communities.