A family in Mombasa is still trying to come into terms with the death of their child, a form one student who was found dangling from the roof of their bathroom one week after being suspended from school
According to reports, Hilda Kimathi, 15 from Franz Joseph Secondary School in Kwale County was last week suspended from school after she was involved in a fight with her schoolmate.
After Hilda got home, she narrated to her father Martin Kimathi what had happened at the school leading to her suspension prompting her father to take her back to school to settle the matter.
According to the girl’s Aunt Harriet Kanamuu, her brother Marthin took the girl back to the school but the administration could hear non of their story forcing the father to take her daughter back home in Mtwapa, Kilifi County to wait for the 2 week suspension period to end before taking her back to school.
“But when Martin got to the school accompanying his child, the administration refused to take her back and ordered the father to go back on the following week on Thursday to settle the indiscipline case,” said Harriet
But it was until two days remaining for her return to the school that Hilder’s body was found dangling from the roof of her room. Hilder who was alone in the room had hanged herself using a bedsheet.
Her mother, Margaret Gakii could not, however, come into terms with the death of her daughter whom neighbors said she loved a lot. Gakii wept uncontrollably until she passed out.
Relatives who converged to mourn with the bereaved family suspected that her death was as a result of the pressure the suspension had put Hilda into.
“We understand that the schools have their own processes of dealing with indiscipline cases but I would urge them to consider not to put the children under pressure,” Ochokorodi said.
He added that together with the police, they had initiated further investigations to establish whether there could be other reasons that pushed the girl to commit suicide.
Hilda’s body was taken to Coast General Hospital and family has started making burial arrangements.
Hilder’s death comes at a time when the body of a teacher from Elgeyo Marakwet county who went missing on Wednesday in Trans Nzoia has been found murdered and his body dumped at Chepchoina Forest in Endebess.
The deceased Ben Kiptoo, a teacher at Nabeki primary school, was found inside the forest when a search was contacted on Friday morning. Trans Nzoia county police Commander, Ayub Ali confirmed that the body was found hanging on a tree with a belt around his neck.
However, it is not clear whether he committed suicide or was killed and his body hanged. Despite the County Commander revealing that the deceased was suffering from mental disorder sometime back, a section of leaders from the region have dismissed the claims and instead calling for though investigations into the matter.
Among those who were hard hit by the teacher’s death included Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who had initially taken to his social media accounts to call for those who had kidnapped the teacher to set him free for the sake of his family.
Police have not yet given any formal information concerning the death and the level of investigations.