Siaya Woman Kills Herself After More Than 500 Unsuccessful Job Applications

SIAYA Kenya January 10 – A woman who graduated from Masinde Muliro University in 2019 on Tuesday died by suicide after searching unsuccessfully for employment for four years.

The body of 27-year-old Vera Okoth was found by her mother in her bathroom at their home in Umiru village of Gem in Siaya county.

Family members said the never-ending search for work had driven her to despair, and she suffered the humiliation of being jobless for too long.

Just before her death, she removed all her certificates and placed them on her bed.

Siaya County Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo said the mother, Herine Okoth, told police she had gone to wake up her daughter up at around 6.30am but found her missing in her room.

On checking the bathroom, which is adjacent to her room, she found her body hanging with a rope around her neck. 

The mother told the detectives that the previous night, before she went to sleep, the deceased told her mother that she was frustrated and wondered if she would ever find a job.

Verah, who had graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, also told the mother she had made over 500 job applications in vain.

“The deceased did not leave behind any suicide note. Investigations have been launched but we are yet to establish the motive,” Kimaiyo said.

The body was transferred to Yala Sub-county hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Police records indicate there has been an increase in suicide cases across the country, with at least 25 cases reported since January 1.

All death investigations are usually conducted as murder investigations until facts prove differently.

Even if the deceased persons leave behind suicide notes, detectives must always seek to establish if it was indeed genuine and was voluntarily written by the deceased.