Lead image for Revealed: What is killing young Kenyan men in their prime years.
On January 1, 2024, 23-year-old James Mwangi from Gatundu South constituency, Kiambu County, joined his family for New Year celebrations. Those present said he was cheerful throughout the day.
That night, Mwangi killed himself. After returning home with his family, his wife woke up to find him missing and found his body in the kitchen.
Mwangi’s stepfather, Karanja Karuri, says there had been no warning signs.
“He was jovial during the day, engaging with everyone,” he says.
“It was shocking to learn he had taken his life. Mwangi was a simple, polite, hardworking man whose future looked bright.”
Mr Karuri speaks of rising suicides among young men in the region, saying many deaths occur without warning. He cites joblessness, drug abuse and other pressures as drivers of depression in men.
Kenya is losing many young men. Some end their lives in silence. Suicide is now one of the leading causes of death worldwide, according to the latest Unicef findings. Among those aged 15 to 24, men are 1.65 to two times more likely to die than women.
For young men, the main killers are road traffic injuries, violence, self-harm and conflict-related injuries.