A tragic scene unfolded at the Swans Business Centre, Chaka area in Nyeri County, after a man jumped from the 6th floor of the building as bystanders watched and encouraged him.
In a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the man who was standing on the edge of the famous building in the Chaka area made several attempts to jump, while bystanders who were taking a video of him encouraged him to jump.
''Jump, it is not far. In fact, you will not die; angels will catch you before you fall," the bystanders could be heard saying while laughing.
Unfortunately, the man took a leap of faith into his last days on earth and jumped, causing him to lose his life instantly.
When he finally made the jump to the ground, the bystanders continued to laugh at him while they stood in awe at what had just happened.
The incident has raised questions about societal empathy and mental health awareness.
''Someone cheering and motivating a mentally sick person to jump, and he just finds it so funny and a laughing matter. They were busy cheering and watching him while he took his own life," one Kenyan wondered.
Neither his identity nor the reason for his jump had been revealed by the time of this article's publication.
The heartbreaking outcome has sparked outrage and calls for greater public education on mental health and crisis intervention.
Reports of heightened cases of suicide in the country continue to question the mental capacity and stress response among Kenyans. In November, a woman jumped off the 14th floor of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), plummeting to her death.
The woman identified as Lucy had reportedly been expressing suicidal thoughts on the social platform before the incident.
To reduce cases of suicide, Kenya has established policies to address mental health challenges and suicide prevention. The Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021-2026 outlines a national framework for reducing suicide rates and promoting mental well-being.
Additionally, the Kenya Mental Health Action Plan 2021-2025 focuses on integrating mental health services into primary healthcare to improve accessibility.
Counsellors, medics, and psychologists recommend seeking help whenever you experience any mental health issue. Call the Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.
