Residents of Maua town are alarmed after three people lost their lives in a span of one week by drowning in Iriene Swamp in Maua, Meru County, leaving the residents devastated and worried.
It is alleged that on Thursday last week, the first victim threw himself into the deep swamp, while the second drowned in a heroic attempt to save the first victim.
In another incident that took place yesterday morning, the third victim is said to have committed suicide in the same swamp, leaving the community with many questions unanswered concerning the safety and mental wellbeing of the youths in the area.
Maua Town Municipality Manager, Timothy Mwenda, noted that the consecutive tragic incidents call for urgent measures and interventions.
Mwenda warned the residents against nearing the water body, noting that the tragic incidences may be attributed to mental-health challenges, which most of the time go unaddressed.
The Igembe South firefighters and Red Cross efforts to retrieve the body also bore no fruit, as the search continues.
According to an eyewitness who sought anonymity, a middle-aged man came running and was seen throwing himself into the water and submerged.
“I saw a young man running towards the swamp and throwing himself into the water as I was parking my motorcycle near the area, and before I could arrive at the scene, he had already submerged under water,’’ he narrated.
The distressing situation has led to intervention by local elders, who performed rituals, including sprinkling honey and finger millet into the water, with hopes that the body would resurface after a few days, as in the case of the previous week.
According to the elders, suicide may be a result of mental illness or stigma drowning associated with spiritual or supernatural influences, which may compel somebody to end their lives by drowning.
They advised the residents to seek intervention from spiritual leaders and incorporate traditional rituals and ceremonies believed to restore spiritual and emotional wellbeing of society.
By Kamanja Maeria
