A sombre mood has engulfed Bochura village, Nyatieko location, Kitutu Chache South constituency in Kisii County after a middle-aged man hacked his children before committing suicide.
Bochura area Chief Lawrence Omari said Daniel Makori, 44, is suspected to have killed his two children aged five and seven with a panga before he hanged himself with a wire.
Omari said it is alleged the suspect had squabbles with his wife, Naomi Nyaboke, who fled and left him with the children in the house, adding that police have launched a probe into the matter.
He said neighbours reported that the duo has been having marital problems and have been fighting until the wife fled and went to reside with her relatives within the area.
“Eight people have committed suicide in the area in the last one and half months due to marital issues. The trend is worrying and urge residents’ concert effort to reverse it,” Omari said.
The area Chief appealed to residents to embrace dialogue in resolving family disputes and share their problems with church leaders and counsellors to assist them instead of taking their lives and leaving their families in distress.
Omari pleaded with stressed and suffering residents to also seek assistance in his office so that they can be linked to professional councillors to guide and counsel them to cope with their challenges and be able to settle.
Police officers from Nyanchwa Sub County and Nyatieko have since visited the scene and moved the bodies to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital for autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.
Kisii Municipality Boba Boda Association chairman, Jasper Maina has condemned increasing cases of boda boda operators committing suicide in the area.
Maina said the escalating number of boda bodas and competition for business had affected the operators, some of whom resorted to committing suicide.
“I urge the operators to form Self-help groups and diversify their activities so that they can boost their earnings,” Maina said.
