Kisumu: Boda boda rider dies by suicide after being accused of phone theft

A boda boda rider took has reportedly taken his own life after being accused of stealing his customer’s mobile phone in Nyando, Kisumu County.

Samuel Okal is reported to have died by suicide on Tuesday night after hanging himself using his jacket in his brother’s house.

Kochogo South sub-location Assistant Chief Eveline Obuon said the deceased had been accused by a pillion passenger he carried that he took away her mobile phone.

Chief Obuon said the deceased had carried the female passenger from a funeral gathering over the weekend to Ahero town, only for her to later claim that he stole her phone.

She said boda boda operators in the area were later alerted of the incident and visited the deceased’s home over the matter.

The administrator noted that Okal denied the allegations saying he was wrongly accused.

She stated that the matter is believed to have triggered his actions since he appeared troubled over the accusations before deciding to take his own life on Tuesday night at 11pm.

Chief Obuon said police were alerted and took away the body to Othoo funeral home as investigations commenced to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Reporting by Lynne Ayuma and Irene Otieno