12-year-old boy commits suicide in Trans Mara over class repetiton

Trans Mara, Kenya: A 12 year-old boy has committed suicide at his parents Nkararo home in Trans Mara.

The boy reportedly took his life Tuesday evening after he differed with his parents who had insisted that he goes back to school against his wish.

Trans Mara West police boss Alfred Muthua said according to the boy’s parents,  the deceased was reluctant to go back to school after he was told to repeat Class One after they moved him from Kisii to the area.

Geoffrey Omete was a pupil at Gekongo Primary school in Kisii County before his family migrated to Nkararo, Transmara West Sub County.  He was set to join Kirindoni Primary to school.

"He committed suicide because he didn't want to go to his new school to repeat class one after performing poorly in the previous school in Kisii County," said Muthua.

Violet Atancha, the mother of the boy said her son, the third born in a family of seven, left their house in the afternoon after he was prevailed upon to repeat Class One but did not go back until news came in that he had killed himself.

She added that the boy had earlier shown reservations about going to school after informing his parents and siblings that he did not want to continue learning.

"I became concerned and worried after he didn't report back home in the evening. I sent his other siblings to look for him only to find him hanging on a rope in the bathroom a few meters away," she said.

She said Omete had repeated Class One for three consecutive years in the previous school, adding that he might have committed suicide because he felt embarrassed for repeating.

"He might have taken his life because he thought he had become a laughing stock.  At 12 years, he was supposed to be in class four," said Atancha, who added that the family is shocked and saddened by the incident.