In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 22-year-old student from Strathmore University met a tragic end after jumping from the fifth floor of Gateway Mall in Syokimau, Machakos County.
The mall’s management revealed that the student had ascended to the rooftop on Tuesday night and, for reasons not immediately clear, leaped from the fifth floor to the ground below, resulting in his instant death.
Witnesses at the scene promptly reported the incident to the Syokimau Police Station, leading to the dispatch of officers to investigate the situation.
The lifeless body of the student was subsequently moved to Montezuma Funeral Home as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragic event commenced.
As of now, details explaining the events leading up to this incident remain unclear, as police sources referred inquiries to, did not provide any response at the time of publishing.
This devastating occurrence adds to a concerning trend of university students taking their own lives, which has raised alarm among mental health professionals.
Mental health challenges are a growing issue in the country, extending beyond the student community.
Just last week, another student from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) tragically jumped from an incomplete five-story building within the institution.
His absence from morning classes had raised concerns among friends who later discovered his lifeless body near the unfinished building.
According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022, men aged 15-49 in Kenya experience depression at a rate of 3.1 percent, while women in the same age bracket suffer at 4 percent.
The leading causes of mental health struggles among the youth include poverty, unemployment, the loss of loved ones, substance abuse, and relationship issues.
In times of emotional distress or mental health challenges, counselors, medical professionals, and psychologists advise reaching out for help.
The Kenya Red Cross provides support through its toll-free hotline, 1199, to assist individuals facing such issues.
