A 41-year-old suspect accused of assaulting his mother died by suicide inside Tarsaa Police Station in Tana River County.
According to a police report obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the suspect's mother had filed a report at the station, alleging that her son had attacked her following an argument.
The suspect was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
Following his arrest, the report reveals that officers manning the station made a routine patrol within the station and were shocked when they found the cell locked from inside.
The officers peeped through the window and saw the suspect's body hanging from the ceiling.
The detectives broke the door to gain access to the office and upon entry, they found that the suspect had already passed away. The suspect left behind a suicide note.
The suspect was set to appear at the Garsen Law Courts where he was expected to be charged in line for allegedly contravening Section 251 of the Penal Code.
“Any person who commits an assault occasioning actual bodily harm is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years," part of the penal code reads.
Crime Scene and Investigations (CSI) personnel based in Malindi visited the scene and documented the events that had transpired.
The suspect's body was transferred to Malindi Sub-County Hospital Mortuary pending post-mortem examination.
The incident highlights the surge in suicide cases attributed to mental health challenges often stemming from societal and economic issues.
According to the Kenya Mental Health Policy, at least one in every four Kenyans suffer from a mental challenge at one point in their lives.
To mitigate the challenge, various stakeholders have created campaigns to raise awareness over the matter and urged those suffering to speak out.
Counsellors, medics, and psychologists highly recommend seeking help whenever you experience any mental health issues. Call Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.
