Nyakera urges youth to seek help amid rising cases of suicide
By Ascah Mwango, September 30, 2025Nairobi DCP patron and former chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) board Irungu Nyakera has urged young people to seek help as the country grapples with rising cases of suicide.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Nyakera said he was deeply moved after reading a social media thread where a person revealed they had attempted suicide six times last year.
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The post had attracted many other painful stories from people who had also struggled with despair and survival.
He said the stories reminded him of his time as chairman of the KICC board, when three people died by suicide after jumping from the building’s rooftop. He described the incidents as tragic, noting that these were not just statistics but real people with hopes and dreams whose lives ended too soon.
“Yesterday, I came across a thread where someone confessed they had attempted suicide six times last year. Beneath that post, many others shared their own painful stories of struggle, despair, and survival. It was heartbreaking to read. It took me back to my short tenure as Chairman of KICC, where three people committed suicide by jumping from the KICC rooftop,” he stated.
Adding;
“These were not just cases or statistics; they were people, each with hopes and dreams, whose battles ended too soon.”
Nyakera expressed concern over the growing crisis, saying suicide claims about four lives in Kenya every day, a number higher than the daily deaths caused by malaria. He highlighted that men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women and warned that suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among young people aged between 15 and 29. He added that studies show one in five adolescents in Nairobi is at risk.
“Sadly, this is not rare in Kenya. Every single day, we lose about four people to suicide, more than we lose to malaria daily. Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. And worryingly, suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among those aged 15–29, with studies showing that in Nairobi alone, one in five adolescents is at risk.”
He appealed to young people facing difficult moments to seek support from friends, family, mentors or professional counsellors. He said reaching out for help is an act of courage, not weakness, and encouraged them to hold on even during their darkest times.
Nyakera said every life is valuable and that no matter how overwhelming the pain may feel today, the future still holds possibilities.
“To every young person battling silent storms, please know that you are not alone. Your life matters far more than the pain you are carrying right now. Reaching out to a friend, a family member, a mentor, or a counsellor is not a weakness; it is courage. Seek help, hold on, and remember that no matter how dark today may seem, tomorrow still holds possibilities,” Nyakera expressed.