KCPE candidate commits suicide after losing top position
A Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidate has committed suicide in Homa Bay County after losing number one position to a rival in class.
The boy, Clinton Okech Ojunga, a pupil at Olodo Primary School in Homa Bay Sub-County killed himself using a sisal rope in the school compound on Sunday, after feeling frustrated with a defeat in a class test.
He had been a bright pupil, leading his fellow candidates in various internal examinations which they had sat this year and the school saw him as one of the talents to shine at national exams due later in the year.
However, when schools reopened for third term, they sat for another assessment test and he ranked second out of 26 candidates. He scored 372 marks while the leading candidate scored 373 marks in the examination test.
The 15-year-old boy seemed angered by this loss and on Sunday, he took a sisal rope at around midday, went to school and committed suicide at the centre of the classroom where he used to learn.
SUICIDE NOTE
The school Head Teacher, Elisha Nyandege, said the the boy never used the main school gate while entering from home because nobody saw him.
“I was called by a security guard that the boy had committed suicide. I stopped church service and rushed the school. We found him already dead,” said Mr Nyandege.
Just a few minutes before taking away his life, the boy took a piece of chalk and wrote information on the black wall showing disappointment with his performance.
The writings which police obtained read, “Congratulations to all my teachers, who have been teaching me since I joined this school. It is not my fault to bid you goodbye but because of unavoidable circumstances, it is forcing me to do so.
“It is useless to live without peace according to my gradual poor performance. To all candidates, best wishes in your exams. We shall meet again.”
CONSISTENT PUPIL
The head teacher said the pupil had been consistent in his scores, in spite of falling behind in rank.
“In the previous test, he was one time number one with 369 marks while this time, he was number two with 372 marks,” said Mr Nyandege.
The head teacher suspects other factors, not just academic pressures, may have forced the boy to take own life.
“The boy comes from Migori County but he used to live with his aunt in this village. I have been told that he recently sent an SMS telling his father to stop listening to hearsay,” said the head teacher.
The body was taken to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.
Homa Bay OCPD Esau Ochorokodi said they had launched investigations into the incident.
“It is unfortunate incident but we are investigating to establish circumstances which led to the boy’s death,” said Mr Ochorokodi.
The unfortunate incident happened as Kenyans joined the world in marking the World Suicide Prevention Day.
