Police in Bungoma South Sub County are investigating an incident where a form one student from Cardinal Otunga Girls High School committed suicide last Wednesday.
Speaking to the press at his office in Bungoma, the Deputy County Police Commander, Johnstone Lyambila, confirmed that they had received a report from the school that a student had committed suicide.
Lyambila said Sarah Nekoye Sifuna aged about 16 years, committed suicide using a piece of a bed sheet in her dormitory after allegedly being paraded before other students and shamed over claims of altering her Geography marks.
He said that the deceased left behind a suicide note stating that she did not cheat in Geography and would rather die than being shamed before fellow students.
The Deputy Police Commander confirmed that they are carrying out investigations to find out what really drove the form one student to commit suicide and establish the authenticity of the suicide note she left behind.
He raised concerns over rising cases of suicide in the County which are caused by several factors such as underlying issues and differences which are left unresolved. He cautioned residents against taking away their own lives stressing on the sanctity of human lives.
The deceased’s father, Zakayo Sifuna, who was accompanied by his younger brother Edward Sikauti, said he is appealing for justice for the death of his daughter. He went to the girl’s school upon receiving a text message where he waited outside the Deputy Principal’s office for 40 minutes before being attended to.
Mr. Sifuna said that he became suspicious when the school administration was avoiding him yet he had been informed that a form one student had committed suicide at the school. It is when he confronted teachers who were in a meeting that he confirmed his worst fears that indeed his daughter had died.
He added that he was encouraged to be strong while two male teachers escorted him to the mortuary, where he found his daughter lying with the piece of sheet on her neck at Bungoma County Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem. Ms. Sarah Nekoye Sifuna hailed from Nakhwana in Bumula Sub County within Bungoma County.
The bereaved parent said that his daughter used to perform well and wondered why there was an issue with Geography marks. He requested the government to look into the matter.
By Maureen Imbayi
