A somber mood engulfed Koibarak Secondary school in Ainabkoi sub-county, UasinGishu County after a fourth form student took own life under unclear circumstances.
The student who is reported to have been living with his uncle was said to have attended morning preps with fellow students but was left in the classroom when the rest stepped out for a short break before the commencement of the regular lessons.
Classmates added that the deceased remained behind during the break thus it is suspected it was the time he decided to take away his life.
The deceased was said to have been in high spirits in the morning and had no signs of stress only to be discovered to have consumed cattle dip chemical as fellow students were met with a smell of the substance in the classroom.
On checking the student discovered the deceased had indeed taken the substance and was already getting weak.
The school administration promptly rushed him to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital where he was immediately placed on the intensive care unit (ICU) but succumbed to death a short while.
Eldoret East police boss John Owuoth confirmed the death but cautioned the youth against taking their lives away on matters that could be easily handled.
The police boss appealed to school administrations to regularly offer guidance and counseling with a view to resolving such matters whenever they arose and before it takes fatal dimensions.
The body of the deceased was moved to the MTRH morgue.
This comes at a time when there has been an increase in suicidal deaths among students in both high school and universities across the country.
Many of the reported suicides have been found to be caused by depression because of relationship matters and cases like unwanted pregnancies.
By Rono Robinson
