The Githunguri Tragedy
In the first incident on Tuesday morning in Rwamuti village, Githunguri, Kenneth Kamau reportedly strangled his wife before dismembering her body. Witnesses described it as one of the most gruesome scenes they had ever encountered. Kamau then turned on his son, killing him, before hanging himself from a nearby avocado tree.
Kamau, who worked as a boda boda rider in Githunguri town, left behind a suicide note revealing he was battling severe depression. In the note, he accused his sister-in-law of causing a rift in his family by alleging that he was responsible for the death of his brother, who died two years ago while riding as a passenger on Kamau’s motorcycle.
The suicide note read in part:
“I had to do this juu nauma (because I’m hurting). It is getting worse day by day. I have done this juu niliskia mtoto akisema kama aliua baba yetu, hii kitu iliniuma sana (because I heard the child say that it’s like I killed their father; this thing has really affected me psychologically).”
He further wrote:
“To my friends and customers, thanks for almost making my dream come true. To my entire family, si kwa ubaya (no malice intended), but be careful sis and bro, this lady will bring conflicts between you and dad. To Rwamuti village, pesa ya welfare mpatie siz yangu awape John na awasaidie (let my welfare money be given to my sister so she can help my brother John).”
Concluding the letter, Kamau stated that whoever found his phone would be able to withdraw Ksh 200,000 that was still in his account.
Local residents were left baffled, questioning how such a young person could succumb to extreme depression without anyone intervening.
The Kangoya Incident
In a separate incident on Thursday morning, residents of Kangoya village in Kiambu were shocked to find the body of 43-year-old Samuel Gichuru King’ara, who had hanged himself from a tree behind his family’s farm.
Locals rushed to the scene and attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts were in vain. They secured the scene and waited for the police to arrive.
A suicide note was recovered from Gichuru’s house by the police, though authorities declined to immediately reveal its contents to the Kiambu Observer.
Gichuru, an alumnus of Karuri High School and a trained hotelier, was described by neighbors as a humble, quiet man who preferred to live a private life.
Police Investigation
Police have launched investigations into both tragic incidents. The deaths have sparked a broader community debate regarding the severe psychological and emotional distress currently facing many young people.
