A woman aged 45 years died by suicide on Wednesday after jumping from the 19th floor of View Park Towers off Uhuru Highway.
According to a police report from a security official who works as a supervisor at the tower dated Wednesday, November 6, and obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the woman jumped from the nineteenth floor at around 3 p.m. on the same day.
She is said to have left her shoes, jacket, and mobile phone on the rooftop and fell on top of a tent erected on the ground floor.
Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to the injuries.
After receiving the report, police officers visited the scene and established that the deceased had visited her male friend who ran a printing business on the ground floor of the building.
"They were together taking tea but she excused herself but in a short while, her friend received a message from her that she had decided to commit suicide," read part of the police report.
Police documented the scene and the body of the deceased was moved to the city mortuary awaiting autopsy.
Following cases of an alarming increase in the number of suicide cases in the country, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) called for immediate reforms to address mental health issues and decriminalize attempted suicide.
Police say the trend of suicide has been worrying since up to two cases are reported daily.
According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya has recorded 1,576 suicide deaths over the past four years.
The KNCHR emphasized the importance of open discussions in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and building stronger support systems for people facing mental health challenges.
Many suicide attempts in Kenya go unreported because the act is criminalized implying that the true scale of the crisis may be bigger.
According to KNCHR, Kenya is one of approximately 20 African countries where attempted suicide is still a criminal offence.
The country is however making strides to change the narrative. Recent legislative reforms, such as the Mental Health (Amendment) Act of 2022, have been praised for recognizing that people who have suicidal thoughts or behaviors deserve access to affordable mental health care, counseling, and rehabilitation.
Counselors, medics, and psychologists recommend seeking help whenever you experience any mental health issue. Call the Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.
