West Pokot: Elderly woman slits throat, bleeds to death

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A 51-year-old woman committed suicide in Kitoyo area, West Pokot County under unclear circumstances.

The incident left locals in disbelief after finding the lifeless body behind her house lying in a pool of blood.

Ripongura Chepotula Chemworan- a mother of seven-reportedly sent the children to a shopping centre on Wednesday evening and left home alone.

According to Muino sub location Chief Henry Cheppos, the woman then took a machete and slit her throat.

He said the woman decided to end her life and when her grandchildren and children came back, they found her already dead and alerted the neighbors.

"We went to the scene where we found the machete still intact on her throat," he said.

The administrator said the woman had been suffering from a rare skin disease and suspect the condition might have drove her to commit suicide.

"Her husband was not at home when it happened. They were peaceful, we have never witnessed any disagreements," Cheppos said.

He also added that cases of elderly women in the area committing suicide have been on the rise.

Two weeks ago, another elderly woman reportedly hanged herself under unclear circumstances.