• The student, who was among those preparing to sit their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) next month, is reported to have jumped from the second floor of the school's administration block.
• The motive of the incident is yet to be known. Detectives camped at the school for the better part of Saturday as investigations commenced.
Image: The Star
A Form Four student at Sironga Girls' High School in Nyamira County died by suicide after she allegedly jumped from the second floor of their administration block.
Police and the school administration said the incident happened Saturday morning.
The student, who was among those preparing to sit their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) next month, is reported to have jumped from the second floor of the school's administration block.
The incident plunged the only national girls' school in Nyamira County into grief as students and teachers struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
Police said they are investigating the incident.
School Principal Jane Nyanumba said the KCSE candidate jumped from the building when the rest of the girls were preparing to begin the day.
"The girls were preparing to start the day when the student jumped from the building. She was injured and rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead,” she said.
The principal added the deceased girl was in her usual mood and had shown no signs of distress.
"She was okay and even slept well. We are shocked."
The student was often quiet, her colleagues and teachers said.
The motive of the incident is yet to be known. Detectives camped at the school for the better part of Saturday as investigations commenced.
Nyamira South Deputy County Commissioner Florence Obunga said she was informed of the incident by the school principal at 6.30 am.
“We went there with the subcounty security team after learning of the incident and established she had sustained injuries to the head," she said.
She added the school has a strong counselling department and wondered what could have motivated her to the tragedy. Her parents visited the institution after being informed of the same.
West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka called on investigating agencies to establish the cause of the student's demise so that similar incidents can be avoided in the future.
"Mental health has become a leading killer disease, and through Parliament, I will ensure that I draft a motion for counselling lessons to be included in the curriculum to reduce the suicide cases among the youth,” he said.
This is the latest such incident to happen involving suicide.
Police say cases of suicide are on the rise in the country. Police say the trend has been worrying and increasing as up to two cases are reported daily.
The World Health Organization says such cases are attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, and legal and financial difficulties.
Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression, and bipolar disorder.