Residents of Kirinyaga County have expressed growing concern over an apparent rise in suicide cases following the death of a middle-aged woman in Kerugoya town, barely a week after her husband was laid to rest.
The woman, identified as Jackline Njeri, reportedly died by suicide on Sunday night at her rented house in Kerugoya town, Kirinyaga Central Sub-county. The tragic incident occurred just days after the burial of her husband, Robert Migwi.
Residents and fellow traders at Kerugoya Market, where the deceased was well known, described the incident as shocking and deeply painful. According to traders Sophia Wanjiru and Purity Muthoni, the market community had only recently come together to mourn Njeri’s husband.
“We closed Kerugoya Market last week to attend the burial of her husband. This week, we rushed here after residents raised an alarm that Jackline was no more,” Wanjiru said.
Muthoni noted that the deceased, who was a mother of one child, did not leave behind a suicide note.
“As traders at Kerugoya Market, we are deeply saddened. We buried her husband last week, and now we must once again come together to give Jackline a dignified send-off,” she said.
On December 23, 2025, business activities at Kerugoya Market were brought to a standstill as more than 400 traders closed their stalls to attend the burial of Robert Migwi. Traders held prayers at the market before escorting the body in a peaceful procession through Kerugoya town to Kandongu Village in Mwea West Sub-county, where he was buried.
“We held prayers at the market for about an hour before escorting Robert Migwi’s body to Kandongu Village, where he was laid to rest,” said Patrick Gathaku, a trader at the market.
Meanwhile, public health experts have continued to raise alarm over the increasing number of suicide cases, many of which are linked to untreated mental health challenges. Speaking during the burial of 53-year-old Mathew Njiru Muchira, who also died by suicide last week, Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni Muriuki urged families and communities to take mental health concerns seriously.
“Mental illness should not be ignored. Families and communities must support their loved ones when they notice changes, instead of condemning or isolating them,” the Principal Secretary said.
Authorities and health professionals continue to urge members of the public to seek help and speak openly about mental health issues as efforts to address the rising cases continue.
