The deceased, Eng Justus Juma of Gogni Rajope Construction Company who jumped from Second floor of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices at Lake Basin Mall on the Kisumu-Kakamega Road/Handout. Photo by Odhiambo Odhiambo. 
By Odhiambo Odhiambo
The construction industry was on Thursday thrown into mourning following the tragic death of Eng. Justus Juma, the Chief Executive Officer of Gogni Rajope Construction Company, who took his own life at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices located at Lake Basin Mall along the Kisumu–Kakamega highway.
According to police reports, Eng. Juma, a respected civil engineer and former Nyanza provincial roads engineer, parked his car at the premises before handing his keys to a security guard — with instructions that his son would later collect the vehicle — moments before leaping from the second floor. He sustained fatal head injuries and died on the spot.
Confirming the incident, Kisumu Central Deputy Police Commander Bakari Mwanauli said, “We received information from a security guard that the deceased had jumped from the second floor. Our officers, together with DCI detectives, visited the scene and moved the body to Aga Khan Hospital mortuary for postmortem.”
Reports from within his company indicate that the late engineer had been struggling with stress related to pending tax issues and delayed government payments. While some staff claimed he was facing huge tax arrears, KRA dismissed the allegations as “false and misleading.”
In a statement, KRA expressed its condolences to the bereaved family, noting, “KRA deeply regrets this incident and offers heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the late Eng. Juma. The Authority is cooperating fully with law enforcement to support ongoing investigations.”
Sources close to the family revealed that Eng. Juma had been suffering from insomnia and had recently sought medical attention at Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu.
His firm, Gogni Rajope Construction, has been involved in several major infrastructure projects, including the Malava–Ikoli road in Kakamega County, and the Masara–Sori–Agolo Muok and Got Nanga–Bar Ober roads — some of which are currently suspended due to financial constraints.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the growing mental health crisis among professionals and business leaders grappling with financial pressures, delayed payments, and regulatory challenges.
Experts are now calling for stronger psychosocial support systems within workplaces, especially for entrepreneurs and contractors dealing with high-stress government projects.
