A 40-year-old man accused of killing his wife in Kagio Town, Kirinyaga County, has died by suicide while in police custody.
The suspect, John Mugendi, reportedly hanged himself using his t-shirt inside a cell at Kiamaciri Police Station, Mwea-West Sub-county.
According to Mwea West Sub-county Police Commander Rashid Ali, the incident occurred on Tuesday as Mugendi’s late wife, Catherine Wanjiku, was being buried in Kiaragana village, Ndia Constituency.
“Mugendi was arrested on November 17, 2024, after stabbing his wife to death. He had been remanded following a court directive to allow police to conclude investigations by December 9, 2024,” said Commander Ali.
The tragedy adds to concerns over rising mental health challenges in the region. Speaking on the matter, Kirinyaga County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Gender and Youth, Millicent Nyawira, emphasized the county government’s commitment to addressing mental health issues.
“The administration under Governor Anne Waiguru has rolled out mental health programmes in all medical facilities to address the rising cases of mental health challenges,” Nyawira stated.
The incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced mental health support within law enforcement systems and society at large.
