Kenyan-Born US Veteran Dies by Suicide in Isolation in Los Angeles

The suicide of Patrick Kariuki, a 51-year-old Kenyan-born former US Marine, in Azusa, Los Angeles County, in late May has brought into sharp focus the challenges faced by members of the African diaspora living far from home. 

Kariuki's death, following a battle with a grade 4 brain tumour, occurred amid near-total isolation, prompting a wider discussion about support systems for migrants.

Kariuki's plight came to light after a call for assistance was posted on the Wanderlust online platform, appealing to Kenyans in the Los Angeles area to identify a deceased compatriot. Authorities discovered a handwritten note and only one contact on his phone: his son, Lawrence, who lives in Las Vegas. The local county was preparing for cremation when Lawrence intervened.

Kariuki's life story is one of service, loss, and migration. After completing two tours with the US Marines, he settled in the United States and started a family. His first marriage, which produced three children, Lawrence, Laura, and Lauren, ended with the death of his wife in 2017. This loss marked a turning point, leading to emotional withdrawal and physical decline, exacerbated by his terminal brain cancer diagnosis.

He remarried a Filipino woman, and they had a daughter, however, this relationship ended in separation, with his wife returning to the Philippines with their child. Estranged from much of his family and battling terminal illness, Kariuki experienced profound solitude. This tragedy is not unique. Weeks earlier, Evans Kibiwott Kangogo, another Kenyan, was found dead in his Seattle apartment after failing to report to work for several days. 

Although Lawrence maintained occasional contact with his father, their communication had become sporadic. Upon receiving the news, Lawrence made arrangements for a dignified funeral. Adding to the family's grief, Kariuki's mother in Kenya died days after learning of her son's death. She collapsed after seeing off visitors who had come to offer condolences. This double loss has deeply affected Kariuki's elderly father, who now faces the loss of both his son and wife within a short time.

However, amidst the tragedy, an outpouring of support has emerged from the Kenyan community in the US. Diaspora groups and individual volunteers have rallied around Lawrence. Lawrence, 28, intends to return to Kenya after the funerals to mourn and reconnect with his family, including his estranged sisters. He hopes that their shared grief can bridge the gaps in their relationships.