Several other cases of teen and pre-teen suicides have lately been reported and although the police do not have exhaustive data on the number of child and teen suicides.
Are parents not paying attention to their children’s feelings and behaviour ?
A family in Molo, Nakuru County is in mourning following the tragic death of their ten-year-old son.
The boy, who was a class five pupil, took his own life at their home in Ndimu village Molo Nakuru County.
Elburgon Assistant County Commissioner Naftali Korir said the boy hanged himself on Monday morning.
According to the official, preliminary investigations indicate that the boy committed suicide after he was denied permission to travel to Nairobi for holidays.
They are, however, looking further into the incident.
“We haven’t established yet what drove the boy to that extent but we are investigating keenly,” he said.
The deceased’s body was taken to Elburgon Nyayo Hospital mortuary.
This comes barely a week after a 13-year old girl committed suicide in Elementaita,Nakuru County after a disagreement over a TV remote control.
She got into a fight with her cousin as they watched TV in the living room.
The deceased got angry after the channel was changed and was later found dead.
Her body was taken to the Nakuru Municipal Mortuary.
Gilgil OCPD Emmanuel Opur confirmed the incidence stating that the suicide took place on Monday night.
The girl was living with her aunt in the Jogoo area of Elementaita.
Experts and researchers have called for enhanced awareness campaigns on mental health in Kenya and for more resources to be deployed towards mental health.
A Pew Research Centre report indicates that smartphone ownership accounted for more than 50 per cent of teenage depression in 2012, when this phenomenon began to increase.
Apart from frustrations resulting from great expectations, Dr Khasakhala said some children are exposed to events that traumatise them, like sexual, emotional and physical violence which trouble their minds.
To solve the problem, Dr Khasakhala said parents, teachers and siblings have to offer support to children who look or sound troubled by seeking psychiatric help for them and keeping them from events that may frustrate them further like bullying.