A 10-year-old grade two pupil was in Wednesday, February 3, found dead in what is suspected to be a suicide case.
The victim identified as Faith Achieng was found hanging by the neck inside her stepmother's house at Rayier village, Homabay county. The little girl allegedly committed suicide.
The girl who was a pupil at Emmanuel Mercy Academy was reported missing after she left home on Tuesday morning for school but failed to return untill evening.
A search party led by her parents established that the girl did not show up at school on the said day, prompting an extended search around the village in hope of finding her.
A family member would later find the girls’ body hanging in her stepmother's house, just a few meters from her parents’ homestead.
Area Assistant Chief Clement Owuodho said the girl's body was bruised around the stomach, with a stab wound on her stomach. The nature of the wound assumed the shape of one from a knife.
Beneath the body were a kitchen knife, a matchbox, and a plate of githeri.
“Her parents said the girl had not shown any signs of depression prior to the incident,” added Owuodho.
According to the administrator, the girl may have committed suicide, but it was unclear given the bruises on her body were hard to explain, and the scene apparently confusing.
Sarah Chumo, Rachuonyo North Police commander stated that police were looking into the matter.
The body of the little girl was taken to Kendu Adventist Hospital Mortuary where a postmortem will be done.
A report by the World Health Organization in 2019 revealed that about 800,000 people die from suicide each year with majority of them aged 15-29 , in which age-group suicide is the second leading cause of death. In Kenya, WHO data estimates that 1408 people commit suicide yearly.
