Bomet man commits suicide over suspected financial challenges

A 67-year-old village elder in Chepalungu Sub County in Bomet County over the weekend committed suicide due to suspected financial challenges.

According to family sources, John Koros from Atebwo Village in Bingwa location had recently confided to them that he was being haunted by a loan he had failed to service due to economic hardships. 

“We suspect that our elder brother decided to take his life over a loan he was yet to repay though he did not leave any note,” said a relative who did not want to be named.

He said the old man did not reveal the institution from which he took the loan.

Confirming the incident Bingwa Location Chief Mr Philip Langat said the body was found dangling from a tree Saturday afternoon with a rope round the neck by one of his sons.

Langat said the incident had dealt a big blow to the local council of elders that the deceased led.

“The incident has taken us by surprise because the deceased is one of those people locals usually looked up to for help,” he noted.

He said investigations into the incident have been launched.

“It is very strange that an elder of his stature can commit suicide and we have taken up to try and uncover what drove him to take his life,” said Langat.

The chief decried rising cases of suicide saying residents of the same village were still mourning a secondary school teacher who hanged himself using a rope a week ago after quarrelling with his wife.

He said there was urgent need to find a solution to alarming suicide cases among youth, elders and even young children.

“Cases of suicide have reached a worrying level. We need to go back to our norms where we speak up and share our problems rather than take a rope,” added Langat.

Also confirming the incident, Chepalungu Sub-County police commander Nelson Maasai said the body was removed to Longisa Hospital mortuary.

Mr Maasai said a team of detectives has been dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident.