What would bring a child to that point where they decide to take their own life? Where did children learn the idea of suicide from? These are some of the questions we need to ask ourselves because as it is, suicide is becoming prevalent among children in Kenya.
A family in Ndimu village in Molo, Nakuru County is today mourning their 10-year-old son who committed suicide in the morning.
Confirming the incident, Elburgon Assistant County Commissioner, Naftali Korir said the Class Five pupil hanged himself at their home.
According Mr. Korir preliminary investigations indicate that the boy might have taken his life after he was denied permission to travel to Nairobi for holidays.
“We haven’t established yet what drove the boy to that extent but we are investigating keenly,” he said.
The body was taken to Elburgon Nyayo Hospital mortuary.
This isn’t the first time Nakuru County is on the news for suicide. In March this year, a 13-year-old boy from Michatha Village in Molo committed suicide after spending Ksh. 100 which he had snatched from his younger sister who had been sent to a nearby shop by her father. The boy went missing after the father questioned him after the incident only for his sister to find his body dangling from the roof on a bed sheet he had used to hang himself.
Confirming the incident, area chief Jackson Njoroge said they also found a suicide note on one of the tables in the living room where the minor had committed suicide. “We found a poorly written suicide note in the house stating how he loved his siblings. He named a few friends who were to attend his burial and have chapati. He did not give a reason why he decided to take his life,” said Chief Njoroge.
In September of 2018, an 11-year-old boy from Gatumbi Primary School in Kigumo, Murang’a County was found hanging from a tree near his home. According to Peter Njiraini, a neighbour, the boy had been sent to take a rope to his aunt and when he took long to return home, his younger brother was sent to find out what had happened and that’s when he found the body hanging from a tree.
These are just a few of the cases of primary-going students and teenagers who have committed suicide, most of which, if you look at the reasons behind the suicide, you must admit are petty. Could there be something deeper than what is on the surface?
Do we need to pay more attention to the mental health of our children?