A senior government official committed suicide in Homabay minutes after he was rescued from his first suicide attempt.
Reports indicate that Thadayo Nyakwaka jumped into a well in his compound in Homabay county and died instantly after drowning.
Earlier on, he had attempted to commit suicide by jumping into an open pit latrine but was rescued by a relative.
The deceased served in Homa bay County’s ministry of health and had confided in friend that he was contemplating suicide due to financial problems.
Local area chief Cyprian Obonyo was quoted saying he had “interacted with his friend who narrated to me how he convinced Nyakwaka to stop poisoning himself. He was arguing that he had financial problems”.
playFile image of health workers at a past strike (Standard)
Ndhiwa OCPD Dishon Chadaka confirmed the incident stating that investigations had been launched to establish the cause of death.
Colleagues to the deceased attributed his woes to poor working conditions and frustrations over salary delays with health workers on strike in the county.
The Standard quoted local Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union Executive Secretary Ben Otieno alleging that the deceased was frustrated with how the Homa Bay county government was handling their salary plight.
“He died when he received information that legal action would be taken on striking heath workers yet his salary had been delayed,” Otieno said.
The body of the deceased was moved to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital mortuary.