Police probe two final year students’ deaths at JKUAT
Mystery surrounds the death of two Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) students who died from suspected suicide in the past week over alleged delayed graduation blamed on missing exam marks.
The body of Irene Monica, 26, a Fourth Year student in the School of Business Computing, was found in a bathroom inside her apartment in Juja on Wednesday.
Her death came just three days after another male student, also a Fourth Year, was reported to have committed suicide inside his room on Saturday.
While the university has dispelled claims of having denied the two opportunity to graduate, police yesterday said Monica died the same day she was to obtain her degree during the university’s 38th graduation ceremony.
Details have emerged indicating Monica, who was to graduate in 2020 but was locked out when all learning institutions were closed as a measure to combat the spread of Covid-19, had missing marks.
Juja Sub-County police commander Phyllis Muthoni, said Monica had received several counselling sessions from her brother although she eventually decided to take her life.
“(She) was found dangling from the bathroom door frame with a piece of cloth around her neck,” Muthoni told journalists yesterday.
According to her, Monica had left a note urging her parents, friends and college mates to be strong.
“No one is to blame. It is all my fault. I’m sorry. I really hope you will get over it soon. Thank you for everything,” the suicide note seen by the People Daily read in full.
Monica’s brother had visited her for two days in a row but she did not open the door for him. On the second visit, he peeped through the window and saw Monica’s phone on the table with its SIM card removed. That was when he went to report the matter at the Muigai Inn police post on Tuesday afternoon.
“Our officers accompanied by DCI detectives visited the scene and broke into the room where they found the deceased hanging from the bathroom door,” said Muthoni.
The body was taken to General Kago Funeral Home in Thika awaiting autopsy.
Monica is reported to have complained to her friends that she was frustrated by the fact that she was not graduating and had on several occasions engaged the university over the matter unsuccessfully.
On Saturday, another student is said to have committed suicide just three days before his graduation. It is believed Lenny Jesse Masaga took his life due to missing marks. He was found dead by his girlfriend inside her room at Maya Apartments along Kenya Road, having hang himself in the bathroom using a laptop charging cable.
“He also had stab wounds on the chest,” a police report said.
The body was also taken to General Kago mortuary to await a post-mortem.
Police have appealed to the university administration to address rising incidents of suicide.
“The fact that two students of the same institution have committed suicide in such quick succession is worrying. It is time the university takes corrective measures,” said the police commander.
She asked the administration to consider offering counselling services to learners, many of whom may be going through stressful life experiences.
However, the university through its communication officer, Dr Joan Mutua, denied accusations it had denied any student the opportunity to graduate.
- Reporting by Zaddock Angira, Mathew Ndung’u and Oliver Musembi
