A 21-year-old university student was found dead in an apparent suicide in Waiteithie Estate, Kiambu, on Wednesday, December 11, around 9:00 a.m.
The body was discovered hanging from the top of an apartment wall by passers-by who immediately alerted residents. Shortly after, students from the institution arrived at the scene and identified the deceased as one of their peers.
During the identification process, a letter believed to be a suicide note was recovered. In the note, the student expressed despair over financial and academic struggles, detailing emotional challenges that he said had hindered his academic progress.
The note further accused a female lecturer of contributing to his hardships. The student claimed the lecturer had repeatedly failed him in examinations and compelled him to retake some tests, which he said exacerbated his frustrations.
Police officers later arrived at the scene, removed the body, and initiated an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The student’s death sparked outrage among his peers, who staged demonstrations, accusing some lecturers of perpetuating academic frustrations. The protesting students also criticized the university’s student leadership, alleging incompetence and a lack of timely response.
“We have never staged a demonstration before, but this time we are going to do it. The student leaders arrived very late, long after the body had been taken to the mortuary,” one student lamented.
Another protester demanded the dismissal of the lecturer mentioned in the suicide note. “The lecturer must go. He left a message explaining what happened to him, and we will not tolerate this any longer,” the student stated.
Authorities are continuing their investigations, while the university community remains in shock over the tragic loss.
