File image of a police vehicle
A Form Four student has shot himself dead in Karaito Village, Homa Bay County.
The 17-year-old student shot himself in the head on Monday, June 29, using his father’s firearm following a disagreement over a mobile phone.
Preliminary reports indicate that the high school student, who was the son of a police officer, took his own life after his mother confiscated a mobile phone he had been using.
Rachuonyo North Sub-County Police Commander Peter Walah confirmed the incident, saying the deceased teenager waited until his father had gone to take a bath before taking the pistol and leaving the house.
The high school student is reported to have walked to the nearby college, climbed over the perimeter wall and entered the compound, where he shot himself.
“His father is a police officer who works in Meru County. He waited for his father to go into the bathroom and sneaked away with the pistol,” Walah said.
Police officers who responded to the scene recovered the firearm, which has been taken for forensic examination as detectives continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The body of the deceased student was moved to the Rachuonyo South Sub-County Hospital mortuary in Oyugis, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
Walah urged parents to pay close attention to the well-being of their children, particularly when dealing with academic pressure or family disputes.
“Residents need to embrace guidance and counselling. This can help rescue people who are facing problems,” the Rachuonyo North police boss stated.
