The State Department of Diaspora Affairs has raised alarm over the rising suicide cases of Kenyans living in the diaspora after a Kenyan woman in Germany was filmed jumping off a storey building through a window in broad daylight.
According to reports, the woman is said to have been suffering from depression which pushed her to the limit.
“In the first recording where she jumped off the building, a child is heard telling her ” Auntie don’t jump “. It has been reported that stress drove her into this,” said a Kenyan living in Germany who shared the video.
In the video seen by The Kenya Times, medical professionals can be seen attending to the injured woman who was fortunate to have survived.
The State Department of Diaspora Affairs while responding to the incident in a February 14, 2024, statement, urged Kenyans in living abroad not to suffer in silence.
“We would like to reiterate that for Kenyans in the Diaspora, don’t bottle in stress and depression.
Talk to someone in your circle, back at home, at a place of work or religious establishments and seek professional help,” read part of the statement.
The department further stated that its Counseling Unit held a webinar on diaspora wellness earlier this month in an aim to address the rising cases.
Also Read: Diaspora PS Responds After Being Called Out Over 2 Kenyans Missing Abroad
Meanwhile, Roseline Njogu, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, responded to reports of two Kenyans missing in Saudi Arabia for two years.
Kenyan calls out Diaspora PS
Njogu had been called out on Wednesday, February 7, by a user on X named Njogu Wagunjo for failing to address the matter.
This followed media reports which highlighted the plight of the two women and the suffering of their families, who were left behind pleading for help to bring their daughters back home.
However, PS Njogu hit back at Wagunjo stating that the government could not intervene in the matter because they had not yet received any report.
She also questioned whether the embassy in Riyadh had been notified of the matter adding that the government could only help after receiving more information.
“How can we intervene if a matter is not reported to us? Have you shared the details of the women in distress with us or our embassy in Riyadh? Or with the National Employment Authority?
“We can help (it’s our mandate) but we need the info,” Njogu stated.
Njogu responded with further information on how to contact the embassy and get direct help in case someone is in need.