Cases of suicide in Kakamega County and the country in general have been on the rise in the recent past. In August 2018, a 22-year-old man committed suicide in Ekero area, Mumias town, Kakamega County by hanging himself on a tree by the roadside over what he called in his suicide note as “frustrations from siblings” -his brother and two sisters. Again on February 16, 2019, a form three student at Butere Girls High School in Kakamega County allegedly committed suicide in the dormitory with a suicide note reading: “forgive me my sister for what I have done. I want to join mum and dad in heaven because I cannot take being sent away from school”.
Reports by local news indicate that the body of the 8-year-old pupil was found dangling from the roof of their outdoor bathroom. The boy’s mother indicated that the body had a rope tied around his neck at their home in Ikonyero village, Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County.
It was discovered by children who were playing near the bathroom who reported to the parents. The body of the deceased was taken to Kakamega County Teaching and Referral mortuary with a post mortem expected to unravel the circumstances of his death.
Kakamega OCPD David Kabena indicated that it was still unclear why the Class Two at Ikonyero Primary School committed suicide.