The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was on Monday, May 9, petitioned to address the welfare of teachers after four teachers died by suicide within one month in Borabu, Nyamira.
County Commander, James Mutigo, confirmed that the four took their lives in the last 30 days, with the latest incident occurring on Monday morning.
Mutigo noted that his officers were working with officials from the teachers' employer-TSC and the county to establish the likely cause of the spike in suicide cases witnessed in the area.
"There definitely a problem and we have launched investigations into the matter. My officers are working with the officials from TSC and the County Director of Education to establish the root cause of the suicides,"
Among those that took their life is Victor, a teacher at a national school, who was found dead in his bedroom. His father, Peter Mong'are told the media that although he tried to conceal his struggles, he could tell that his son was depressed, possibly by finances.
"He never showed any early signs. At the end of this month, he spoke very little about it, but taking one look at him, I knew he had financial struggles," his father disclosed.
Not far from Mongare's home, the family of Bernard Momanyi, a primary school teacher is mourning his death. According to his wife, Leonora Hamadi, she found the deceased hanging from a tree - he also showed no signs whatsoever.
"I found the rope in the kitchen and asked him what it was for. He told me not to worry since we would use it to tie clothes. When I left the house I found him hanging by the tree," Hamadi stated.
Borabu KNUT Secretary-General Charles Obure blamed the spike in suicide cases on the stagnant teacher's wages which have not been adjusted in response to the skyrocketing cost of living, consequently pushing them to the edge.
"The last time the teacher's house allowance was reviewed was in 1996, which means the amount they are given does not match what they pay for rent. We are requesting our employer to review this issue," he stated.
Informed of the increased cost of living, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced an increase of the minimum wage by 12 per cent during the May 1 Labour Day celebrations.
A proposal by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) that put on hold an upward review of the pay for civil servants had been rejected by members of Parliament.
Counsellors, medics, and psychologists advise that you can always reach out for help when experiencing any mental health issues. Call Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199 for support.
