Investigate campus mysterious murders in the country

In 2023 alone there were many reported deaths of university students.This explains the number of mental health crisis among students, enhanced by academic pressure, financial difficulties and social challenges.

A story revealed that relationship problems and family issues were significant factors accounting for 24.75% and 19.80% of student suicide respectively.The alarming trend is fueled by a combination of factors including suicide, mysterious murders and love triangles among others.

Cases like the stabbing of Vincent Omwamba, a third year student at Cooperative University emerge. He who was stabbed several times by people believed to be robbers. According to them, Omwamba was walking home in the company of his two friends when they were attacked.

The two managed to escape, leaving him to battle the attackers. Aside from inflicting stab wounds on his body, they took away his phone and bag.According to the area Sub-County Police Commander, Joakim Mecha, Omwamba was attacked at around 1am.

He has also told a leading newspaper, The Standard, the that Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers have taken over the investigations. "We have recorded some statements from his neighbours and are looking at all scenarios. We have crucial data that we believe will help us nail his killers” Mecha said.

Another body of Mercy Kwamboka, a student of the University of Nairobi, was brutally murdered and her hands soaked in a chemical believed to be an acid and her leg broken was dumped in Mwiki.For Kwamboka’s family, the pain of her loss is worsened by the brutal way she was killed. Her mother’s anguish is palpable as she seeks answers. “We need justice. How could someone do this to her?”. 

Mercy Kwamboka’s final moments paint a chilling picture of brutality. The 20-year-old University of Nairobi student, whose lifeless body was discovered dumped in a thicket in Mwiki, was tortured before being left for dead.

Her disappearance after receiving a mysterious phone call at 11pm from her home in Pipeline marked the beginning of a nightmare for her family which is now demanding justice for their slain daughter. Her leg was broken like a sugarcane and her hands were doused with acid,” Her mother revealed to Citizen TV.

These injuries, evidence of the savage torture, leave no doubt that Kwamboka's captors intended to send a brutal message.

Deaths of campus and college students in Kenya is increasing and deeply troubling and demands urgent attention. Love triangles and relationship issues also play a significant role in the increasing rates of death. The intense emotions and conflicts arising from romantic relationships can lead to violent confrontations and in some cases, murder.

Emily Jelimo Ng’etich, a student at Maasai Mara University was found murdered in her room in what the police said was strangulation.

It is alleged that she was killed by her ex-boyfriend from Moi University’s Annex campus.

Two years ago, a second year student at Kabianga University was accused of stabbing his campus girlfriend to death in a love triangle which left many in shock.

In January the same year, a fourth-year female student at Mount Kenya University confessed to killing her boyfriend by stabbing him "for being unfaithful".

Matters concerning academic pressure and financial difficulties, do not spare our students either.

A first-year student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) died by suicide.

The incident happened one Saturday night, in the school's hostel.Speaking to The Standard via phone on that Saturday night, the family confirmed the incident.

The deceased's father, Joseph Muoki Nzau said he had had a one-on-one conversation with him before his death.

After the conversation, Nzau says his son left to pick up some items from his hostel room so that they could leave for home, but never returned. "He sent a text to his mother yesterday and later to his father saying that he was tired of life and the father reacted by coming to school," he narrated.

"They talked for some time and one of the reasons he mentioned why he sent the text to him was that he had missed government funding and other scholarships," he said.

Universities must prioritize mental health supported by providing counseling services and creating awareness about mental health issues. Parents and guardians also play a crucial role in this effort by fostering open communication and providing emotional support that can help the students navigate the challenge of University life. Government and educational institutions must collaborate to create a safe and supportive environment for students.