Police in Homa Bay County have launched investigations into an incident where a patient died mysteriously in a hospital ward.

Mike Juma, 38, is suspected to have died by suicide at the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital on Sunday afternoon in unclear circumstances.

Juma had been diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) and was undergoing treatment in an isolated ward at the hospital.

He is reported to have taken his life using a belt which was brought to him by his wife the same day.

The deceased wife is said to have visited him at the hospital, where she took to him the belt he had asked for.

Later that evening, after leaving the hospital, she received information that Juma had been discovered dead. The body of the deceased was found by a worker at the hospital who was preparing to clean the toilet.

According to the hospital management, the patient was recuperating from the medication when his sudden death was reported.

Hospital CEO Dr Vincent Oduor said the man was in his own cubicle when his visiting family members left him.

“The patient’s death came as a shock to everyone. Other patients who were puzzled by the incident thought he had gone to either take a bath or to answer the call of nature,” Oduor said.

Homa Bay Sub County Police Commander Emmanuel Kiplagat said a team of investigators were dispatched to the hospital immediately to look into the matter after it was reported.

Kiplagat said his officers, upon visiting the scene, found the body dangling from the roof of the toilet. “A post-mortem will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of his death,” he said.