Firefighters Rescue Man from Suicide Attempt, Call for Community Compassion
Firefighters arrived within minutes, containing the blaze and evacuating the critically injured man to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Firefighters battle a blaze at a mud-walled house, working tirelessly to contain the flames and prevent further damage in Shambani village, Uasin Gishu County. Photo/Uasin County.
By Robert Assad
A man in Shambani village narrowly escaped death after Uasin Gishu County firefighters intervened to stop his suicide attempt by self-immolation.
The quick response saved his life, though he suffered severe burns in the Thursday morning incident.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from the man’s house before alerting emergency services.
Firefighters arrived within minutes, containing the blaze and evacuating the critically injured man to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
“This was a tragic cry for help,” said David Sitati, Uasin Gishu’s Chief Fire Officer. “Our teams acted swiftly, but this case highlights why communities must watch out for each other.”
Villagers described the victim as a reclusive figure who kept to himself. Neighbor John Kemboi recalled: “He never spoke to anyone. We’d see him occasionally, but no one knew his struggles.”
Local authorities suspect untreated mental health issues may have triggered the desperate act.
The near-fatal incident has reignited conversations about Kenya’s growing mental health crisis.
County health officials report increasing cases of depression and suicidal tendencies, particularly among isolated individuals.
Sitati appealed for societal change: “Mental health is everyone’s business. If neighbors had engaged him earlier, this might have been prevented.”
The fire department plans community sensitization programs to teach suicide prevention signs.
As medical teams work to save the burn victim, mental health advocates urge Kenyans to heed the firefighters’ motto: “Let us be our brother’s keeper.” Crisis hotlines report a 300% increase in calls since the incident became public.
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