A man in Kirigiti, Kiambu Sub County on Tuesday committed suicide by taking rat poison after allegedly losing Sh20,000 in a gambling spot in the area. The man is said to have sold a family cow on Monday evening and on Tuesday morning he got tempted to gamble using the money only to lose all of it.
He later went back home where he committed suicide. According to the deceased’s wife Ms Elizabeth Wanjohi, his husband sold their family cow last evening and he intended to add the money to acquire a portion of land that he had negotiated for.
She explained that on Tuesday morning his husband left at around 7 am to go and meet the man who was selling him the land. She said that on his way, he bumped into his friend who took him to the gambling joint where he has always gambled.
She said his friends told her that his husband gambled the Sh20,000. "I had gone to the market, being a market day, when I came back home I found his body lying on the floor with rat poison wrapping on the table with a glass of water. A suicide note also read that he had lost all the family money hence taking his life," said his wife.
She said it was shocking that he took his life over money which they would work and get later in life. She urged the police to close down those gambling joints as they have cost a lot in families.
According to Kirigiti area chief, Mr John Ikinya the man is said to be a fan of gambling although today he didn't intend to.
He said that they suspect that the man committed suicide because he had lost the money just as he wrote on his suicidal note.
"Serious action is going to be taken against these joints as they have been idling places and a new addiction to men. The owner of the joint disappeared on hearing the news but we are going to catch up with him soon. However a crackdown will be done to ensure gambling joints are closed," said Ikinya.