This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
According to Pastor Isaak Kariuki of Baltimore, Maryland, the number of suicide cases among Kenyans in the US has increased significantly in recent years.
“That is why diaspora messenger teamed up with churches in America, the United Kingdom and Bishops, Evangelist, doctors and many others to organise a day of prayer,” said Kariuki.
He believes that the deaths surrounding Kenyans abroad are unnatural and abnormal, and that the community needs to come together to address the issue.
“Kenyans in the diaspora are not so many to warrant the kind of deaths we have seen in the past few years,” Kariuki said.
Experts point to stress, depression, and economic hardships as major factors contributing to the rise in suicide cases among Kenyans living abroad.
Foreign student Eunice Juma noted that many Kenyans struggle to adjust to life in the US, citing the pressure to fit in with the American lifestyle and the difficulty of paying tuition fees.
“You have three jobs and still have to go to school. At the same time, Homeland security is following you. Meanwhile, someone at home thinks there is a tree in America where you pluck money from, yet you are struggling to pay tuition fee,” Juma said.
Elizabeth Otieno attributed the rampant cases of suicide among Kenyan communities living abroad to the inability to cope with challenges, particularly the lack of awareness about mental health.
She noted that children in Kenya live with their parents until a certain age, but in the US, they are forced to be responsible for themselves at a younger age, leading to substance abuse and mental health problems.
Robinson Gichuhi advised Kenyans living abroad to strictly pursue their mission and avoid getting involved in relationships that could lead to financial burdens.
“You might be asked to pay $500 a month. Whether you are a student or not you will have to pay it. If you don’t you cannot access your student loans or credits. Eventually, you will be arrested, charged and jailed,” he said.
Experts and community leaders have been encouraging Kenyans living abroad to identify with or become members of social groups for support.
