Teacher dies by suicide after alarming Facebook post

Dennis Mwaniki, 32, was found dead in his house at Nthangariri village in Mbeere North, Embu county. [iStockphoto]

Barely a day after inviting friends to a function on Valentine's Day, on February 14, through a Facebook post, a teacher was found dead in his house at Nthangariri village in Mbeere North, Embu county.

Thirty-two-year-old old Dennis Mwaniki popularly known as Mukono had posted on his Facebook wall: "Evening Members when you are stressed you just need one friend to share with, meanwhile I invite you to my function on 14/2/2024 welcome all."

Mbeere North sub county Police Commander Eric Yego said Nthawa MCA Sammy Tito made a report at Siakago Police Station that a man was not picking calls from friends and family and he had locked himself inside his house at Nthangariri village.

Yego said police broke the door to gain entry into the house and they found Mwaniki lying dead on his bed with no physical injuries except blood and white substance oozing from the nose.

"The officers from scene of crime documented the scene after breaking the door to gain entry where two sachets suspected to be insecticide and a suicide note were found. We took the body to Embu Level Five Hospital mortuary where an autopsy will be conducted as DCI officers commence investigations," Yego said.

The police commander advised residents to share their challenges with friends instead of taking their lives.

A suicide note believed to have been written by Mwaniki was found in the house. In the note, the deceased stated why he decided to end his life.

He directed that his burial should be on February 14. Mwaniki indicated in the note the mobile number of a woman who he instructed should read his eulogy.

The deceased further asked the Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku and Nthawa MCA to spearhead funeral arrangements.

He also directed that a picture left in the house to be used in the funeral programme. "All my property to be distributed to my children if any, I may look stupid but I have shared my stress with 17 but none talked to me, let's meet in heaven," said Mwaniki.

The man stated in the suicide note that he was heartbroken after the woman he picked to read the eulogy declined his marriage proposal. "I promised to love you till my last breath," said Mwaniki.