Kirinyaga man dies by suicide after leaving instructions on burial.
A family in Kirinyaga County is reeling from grief and financial hardship following the tragic suicide of a 60-year-old man who left specific instructions for his burial.
Mwangi Kimunyu reportedly took his own life by jumping into River Nyamindi. His body was recovered from the river on Tuesday, according to local reports.
Relatives revealed that Kimunyu had previously voiced deep distress and even warned that he might end his life. Despite these signs, his concerns were not given serious attention. Before his death, he explicitly told family members that if he drowned in the river, he wanted to be buried within 24 hours.
“He said that if he threw himself into the river, he should be buried within 24 hours. He was a good person and friendly to everyone in the community, but he never married,” his sister, Ann Njeri, shared.
Kimunyu was described as unmarried and without membership in any community group that might assist with funeral costs. When his body was retrieved, he was fully clothed and had Ksh. 200 in his pocket.
The family now faces significant obstacles in honoring his wishes. Kenyan law requires a post-mortem examination before burial in such cases, but the procedure costs around Ksh. 10,000— an amount the family says they cannot afford.
“We have no money to bury him. The police say a post-mortem must be conducted, but we do not have the Ksh. 10,000 needed,” Njeri said, visibly emotional.
Their 90-year-old mother, Peris Wanjiru Kamunyu, voiced her anguish: “Who will bury him? He was not married and does not belong to any community group that can help us.”
Kimunyu reportedly died on Sunday, meaning the 24-hour burial window he requested has already passed. The family is working with authorities, planning to visit Kianyaga Police Station to secure an affidavit that would allow them to transport the body to Kiarigi village for burial. However, they continue to struggle with transportation costs and other logistics.
Village elder Duncan Njiru highlighted the community's concern: “We retrieved his body from River Nyamindi, and the deadline he had given was Sunday. The family is unable to meet it.”
Local authorities remain in contact with the family as they navigate these challenges during this difficult time.
This incident underscores the often-overlooked struggles of mental health distress and the heavy burden placed on low-income families dealing with sudden loss and legal requirements.
