Majengo, a suburb on the outskirts of Kericho town, was gripped by sadness and disbelief as news spread about the apparent suicide of a 24-year-old man following a devastating gambling loss.
The lifeless body of Collins Kipkorir, a well-known blogger and political activist, was discovered last week hanging from the ceiling of his modest one-room rented house. According to reports from a news source, he had taken his own life after losing a staggering sum of Kes.120,000 in an aviator gambling session on Monday morning, April 8.
Kipkorir, who also worked at an M-Pesa shop in Kericho town, is said to have used funds from his business for gambling, leading to the complete depletion of his bets.
Aron Kosgey, the deceased’s nephew, spoke to a news source over the phone and shed light on the events leading up to the tragic incident. Kosgey revealed that Kipkorir had entrusted a friend with the responsibility of managing the shop while he attended to some errands in town, with the intention of returning later in the day.
“We tried reaching out to him on numerous occasions, but he did not respond to our calls,” Kosgey shared, his voice heavy with grief.
The police report stated that no suicide note was discovered at the scene. As a result, Kipkorir’s body was transported to Siloam Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
The heart-wrenching incident has sparked an outpouring of sorrow and concern within the community, highlighting the urgent need to address the pervasive issue of gambling addiction and its devastating consequences.
