A family is in shock after a 63-year-old man shot himself dead in the house of his estranged wife after they failed to reconcile.
Businessman Iyaz Mukhi used his Glock pistol to shoot himself after he unsuccessfully tried to reconcile with his wife at her apartment along Muthangari Road, Nairobi.
He wanted her to return to their matrimonial home.
The deceased, who separated from his wife in September last year over domestic issues decided to visit her at her house in Haadi apartments in Muthangari in the afternoon to apologise to her and beg her to return to him but she declined.
This forced the woman to leave the man’s house and stay at a different apartment in the same area, neighbours said.
The family told police there have since been efforts to address the issues behind the separation and find a truce in vain.
According to the family, on Tuesday at about 9 pm, Mukhi walked to the woman’s apartment while armed with his pistol.
Police said preliminary findings had shown he is a licensed gun holder.
While at the apartment, he apologized to the woman and asked her to return to their matrimonial house in a brief conversation.
And after he got a negative response from the woman, he apparently reached for his pistol and shot himself in the chest as those present scampered for safety.
“When the wife declined to forgive him, he removed his pistol and shot at himself. A glock pistol and one spent cartridge were recovered from the scene,” police said.
Police were called to the scene and recovered the pistol and a spent cartridge. The pistol had 12 bullets.
Police said they are still investigating the incident and would record statements from various parties, including witnesses.
The body was moved to the mortuary where a postmortem exercise was planned on Wednesday.
Family members present refused to talk to the media, saying the matter was under investigation.
Incidents of suicide have been on the rise with police recording at least two every day.
Police handled 499 cases in 2019 and 575 in 2020.
At least 313 people are reported to have taken their lives between January and July 2021. Police are yet to release figures for this year.
