The increasing cases of suicide within Kiambu County are being associated with complex issue of drug abuse.
At the same time, widespread crime, land disputes as well as assault cases, have also been affecting communities in the area, raising a growing concern.
The Kiambu sub county police commander Mohamud Badel, told KNA in an interview Thursday that a pattern is emerging revealing a significant correlation between substance abuse and individuals contemplating to commit suicide.
“The influence of drugs is sometimes because of feelings of despair and hopelessness, contributing to the vulnerability of those who are already dealing with emotional challenges. Land disputes have also reached a critical point within Kiambu, leading to tension and violent confrontations among families,” he said.
Badel explained that cases of land inheritance and unclear land ownership are leading to the complexity of crime and when such cases occur, they are referred to the Land Commission offices.
The police boss said incidents of physical violence often fueled by personal disputes or criminal activities are putting the safety of the community at risk.
“We are trying to address such incidents through community outreach programmes like, Nyumba kumi community policing and through chiefs and village elders, that help to curb the above cases before they escalate,” he said.
The Community outreach programmes within Kiambu, he said, are being implemented hand in hand with local authorities, to create support networks and also promote conflict resolution skills.
The initiatives, he explained aim to foster a sense of community resilience, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in addressing both the immediate and underlying issues contributing to suicide, land dispute and assault cases.
Badel added that there is no specific area singled out as crime prone as it cuts across the county, but noted that cases of robbery are currently on the low.
According to the economic survey of 2023, Nairobi and Kiambu counties were leading in crimes reported to police stations in 2022. Kiambu reported 7,844 cases, while Nairobi had 8,512.
Five months ago, residents of Kabete Constituency in Kiambu County had expressed alarm over the rising cases of suicide among youths in the area, where within two months 13 young people had taken away their lives.
According to Africa Data check statistics, Kenya ranks 27th out of 46 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of a suicide rate per 100,000 people.
By Ashley Ogolla
