Aviation staff jumps to death at Kenya’s Moi International Airport

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) staff member in Mombasa died after jumping from an airport control tower on Friday, authorities said.
In a statement on Saturday, KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe said the aerodrome control officer IIk, identified as Vincent Kiprop Koech, "lost his life after jumping from the control tower in unclear circumstances".
The incident took place at Moi International Airport.
Mr Kibe said staff members would be given the opportunity to undergo counselling.

He added the employee's family had been informed of the incident and that authorities were carrying out investigations.
"The board and management stands with air control officers during this time, having lost a valuable member of the team," Mr Kibe said.
However, his sister Fidelis Koech said he was always "very happy" so they could not believe that he had taken his own life.
“Even in our family WhatsApp group he did not show any signs of stress. He was very okay. He was not on Facebook ... he said it was for idlers. He used to be very jovial. When I hear people saying he committed suicide I do not understand."
Vincent's father Sigira Koech, a retired teacher, said they always spoke after work but that on the fateful day, he called him at around 10am.

“It was a bit odd because he called very early and was very quick. But I did not think anything peculiar or fishy [of that] because we discussed family matters ... the usual things. He did not talk about anything he was undergoing."
Mr Koech also said that Vincent, the last born in a family of five children, did not exhibit any signs of being under pressure.
“He was a sharp boy. He had a first class honours B.SC in Meteorology from the University of Nairobi. He was not somebody you could push around. He [had worked at KCAA] for a year and three months,” he said.

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ALARM
It was not clear exactly why the KCAA employee jumped to his death but the incident brought to the fore the subject of mental stability and disorders such as depression, where the result is suicide.
Last week, the Health ministry confirmed that a Kenyan doctor undergoing training in Cuba took his own life.
Officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, including Secretary-General Ouma Oluga and Deputy Secretary-General Chibanzi Mwachonda, noted that Kenyan doctors studying in that country are frustrated and mistreated.

Dr Oluga said Dr Hamili Ali Juma had intended to terminate his training due to frustration.
"The arrangement has left Kenyan doctors vulnerable, frustrated and in deplorable conditions. This follows failure by the Kenyan government to secure proper housing, pay promised allowances and allow the doctors to reconnect with their families," he said.
The union has demanded better terms for the medics and the end of the programme so they can return home.

PwC CASE
In October 2018, a senior PwC Kenya manager died after he "fell" from his 17th floor office in Westlands, Nairobi.
Police said the man landed on the balcony of the second floor of the building but did not die on impact.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Aga Khan Hospital.
Many cases of suicide, by people of all ages, have been reported across the country, and led to campaigns for interventions to improve mental health.
The National Police Service is among organisations that have taken steps to prevent suicides following an increasing number of cases.