Senior UoN lecturer found dead in suspected suicide

A University of Nairobi senior lecturer has died of suspected suicide in his Homa Bay County home.

Dr Samwel Owino Mwanda, a senior lecturer in the department of Educational Communication, Technology and Pedagogical Studies died in his home at Kachola Village, Kodera South Location in Rachuonyo South Sub-county.

Dr Mwanda’s body was found behind his house on Thursday. His neck was tied to a tree using a rope while his feet were touching the ground, an implication that he might have committed suicide.

Kodera South Location Chief Joseph Mboga said he was informed of Dr Mwanda’s death by a resident of the area.

“I got information from Mwanda’s neighbour, Japolo Opal, that he had committed suicide. Japolo said he heard Mwanda’s farmhand crying suicide. We went to his home and ascertained the death,” Mboga said.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Hassan Barua said a ladder was found near the body. It is suspected the ladder was used to tie the rope to the tree.

Barua said they found a note which had only the lecturer’s wife phone number written on it.

“The information we have is that he told his farmhand to take care of the home since he was going to leave. But the farmhand later found his body behind the house,” Barua said.

The Police boss said they are investigating the matter to reveal the cause of the death.

“We are told he died of suicide but we are investigating the matter and a postmortem will be conducted to reveal the cause of his death,” Barua said.

Dr Mwanda was in good health prior to his death.

His colleague and a friend said he even had a lesson with students on Monday this week.

“I can remember that Dr Mwanda had an online class with students on Monday because he was working from home. He was a very good man and we are deeply saddened by his death,” he said.