The church and police in Embu have decried rampant incidents of suicide in the area as three people took their lives on New Year's eve.

Embu police boss Gasper Makau and Aglican Church of Kenya Embu Diocese Bishop Henry Gathii said urgent solutions need to be sought to curb such incidents in future.

Speaking yesterday to the Star separately, the two leaders said something very crucial is lacking amongst the people in the area that is making loose value for their own lives.

"We need counsellors to advise locals, especially the youth, to face life with courage despite the many challenges they have to contend with," Makau said.

Bishop Gathii said the traditional social fabric that existed in the past where people cared for each other and society looked out for the children is no more.

"It is sad that we no longer seek each others support as it was done in the past but now opt to do things on an individual basis," he said.

He said parents have also abdicated their responsibilities of nurturing their children the way they should and left it to teachers.

He said people no longer go to church so when life gets tough, they lack the spiritual foundation that would give them hope and despair sets in.

On Monday, Boniface Gituma Mbae a farmhard in Mutunduri village, was found hanging on a coffee tree. Samson Kithia was found dead on the floor of his house in Dallas Estate with an empty container next to him.

Charles Mugendi Gichovi of Kiangima village was found hanging in his brother's house with a mosquito net round his neck.