Shock as pupil dies by suicide over poor performance
A sombre mood engulfed Lobei village near Robert Junction on the outskirts of Lodwar town on Thursday after a Class Seven pupil reportedly hanged himself.
Ms Dorcas Asmit, the mother, said the 13-year-old pupil at Harmony Academy, hanged himself in the house after she had inquired about his second term performance.
Ms Asmit said that as a norm, she asked him to show her the report card because they had closed the school on Wednesday.
"I established that he scored 198 marks, which were low as compared to previous results of between 230 and 250. I asked him why he was dropping and told him to do better next term. I then left to visit his grandmother in the neighbourhood," she said at her home.
The fifth born in a family of seven is said to have gone inside the house quietly. Sharon Achemee, who is the third born, said that they realised all was not well at around 7 pm when she needed something in the house and the door was locked from inside.
Achemee said that she had joked with her brother before she embarked on preparing supper. She thought it was a joke that he had closed the door as a punishment.
"I ordered him to open the door or I break in to cane him. Peeping through the window, I saw him dangling from the roof," she recalled.
Ms Silvia Akuom, a neighbour, said that wailing attracted her to the compound where they organised how to open the door with hopes that he may be rescued alive.
The family is yet to come to terms with what they described as the untimely death of a quiet, hardworking, jovial and respectful boy.
Harmony Academy management led by head teacher Clinton Gichaba and director Billy Esuron said they had received the news of the death of their pupils with shock. The boy joined the school in May.
"He was a highly disciplined boy and average in terms of academic performance. Before we closed the school, I saw him and he was a happy and active boy," Mr Gichaba said.
Mr Esuron urged parents to be close to their children and have time for them to easily notice anything that can be a bother. "By being friendly and available at home, parents can through observation easily notice anything that might be disturbing their children. As a school, we want parents to also be free with teachers so that in a special arrangement we can handle trouble," he said.
Turkana Central deputy sub-county police commander Matthew Ndogo said the body was taken to Lodwar County and Referral Hospital Mortuary.
"We have launched investigations to establish why the pupil committed suicide using a piece of cloth as no note was left behind," Mr Ndogo said.
