Nyandarua: Boy, 15, kills himself over bad KCPE score

Onlookers outside the house where a teenage boy was found dead. PHOTO | WAIKWA MAINA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A fifteen-year boy was found dead in apparent suicide in Karia-ini village, Nyandarua County.

The boy, who sat for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams this year, was found dangling from the roof of his room on Friday evening.

David Njoroge, the victim’s father, said he suspects his son killed himself because he got poor marks in KCPE exams.

“We are disturbed and shocked by the suicide. He was in good terms with all his family members.

“I suspect he took his own life and learning that he did not perform as he expected in the KCPE examination,” Mr Njoroge said.

Esther Wanjiku, a relative, said that she last saw the boy a week ago before he went into seclusion to heal after circumcision.

“I was with his mother when he made some jokes to us on Sunday that us all in stitches. He was a very creative and ambitious boy,” Ms Wanjiku said.

Mr Paul Maina, the Karia-ini sub-location chairman, said this is the first reported incident where a minor has committed suicide in the village.

“We have heard about minors committing suicides in other parts of the country, but it has never happened here,” said Mr Maina.

Police were called to the scene who moved the body of the victim to Engineer Nyayo Ward Hospital mortuary.