Silent Crisis in the Hallways

By WESLEY ORIWO

Second Year BA Journalism and Mass Communication Student,  Chuka University 

It begins as it often does, in the quiet hours. The 4 a.m stare at a ceiling board strained with the anxieties of a thousand headlines. The weight of a tuition fee that feels heavier than the books it paid for. The crushing silence of a phone that won't ring , a stark reminder of the loneliness that thrives in a crowd of 20,000 students.

This is not the university experience captured in glossy brochures. There are no smiling faces here, no triumphant graduation gowns. This is the other campus , the one hidden in plain sight, echoing not with laughter but with a deafening silence . It is in these hallways , in these hostels and behind these brave faces that Kenya's universities are facing a crisis that their are ill-equiped to handle ; a full -blown mental health emergency.

For a very long time, we have romanticised the hustle and stigmatized the struggle. Students are told to man up or to pray about it as if depression and anxiety are demons that can be exorcised by sheer willpower. The result is a generation suffering in solitude , their pain masked by the pursuit of a degree that society tells them is the only ticket to a decent life.

The statistics paint a grim picture. A 2019 study by the Kenya Institute of Management in partnership with the Africa Mental Health Foundation reveals that one in four university students shows symptoms of depression. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, counsellors in both public and private universities report a tripling of students seeking help.

More recent research from the Technical University of Mombasa confirms that depression is a significant global mental health issue affecting countless individuals, with severe consequences including suicide. The study highlights students reporting financial struggles are at a higher risk for mental health problems emphasizing the need to address mental health in young adult populations, particularly among those of lower socio-economic status. 

These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. In 2023 alone, over 150 students deaths were reported across universities, colleges and polytechnics in Kenya. The causes vary from suicide and love triangles to violent crimes and unresolved murders. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among university students with academic pressures, financial struggles and personal conflicts contributing significantly to students' mental distress.

On February 24, 2026 , the body of Dickson Mutinda , a second year business management student at Moi University's Annex campus in Kesses , was found hanging on a truss in his room at Sugumanga shopping centre. His roommates had left him in the room and gone for afternoon classes. When they returned, they found the door locked from inside. Forcing it open, they discovered Mutinda dead. He left a suicide note , his final words ,"I could not keep fighting". 

On April 22, 2025, students at the University of Nairobi woke up to a nightmare. Dennis Kamunya, a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery third year student was found dead at the bottom of the main campus swimming pool. Before his death, Kamunya had posted farewell messages on his social media pages. On WhatsApp, he wrote, " At the bottom of the pool. Down where the water is silent and deep. I rest where bubbles and secrets sleep. I didn't mean to cause a fuss or offence, but better to drown than live forever tense". On his X account, he added, " Even though anxiety, depression and drug addiction kicked my ass , I still count myself lucky". 

The University of Nairobi Students Association described him as a "bright and promising student, known for his dedication to his studies, his warmth and his quiet strength". In their condolence message they issued a plea , " As a community of future healthcare providers, we must continue to normalise open conversations about mental wellbeing, checking in on each other and seeking help when we need it. No one should have to struggle in silence ".

At the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, two students reportedly died by suicide after missing inn the graduation list. a brutal reminder of how academic pressure can become lethal.

Research identifies clear patterns behind students' mental health crises. A study examining depression among university students found that relationship problems and family issues accounted for 24.75% and 19.80% of student suicides respectively. Academic failure or pressure, financial difficulties, alcohol and substance misuse and depression are consistently cited as leading factors.

I want to say this is not a call to pamper students but it is a call to equip them . A university's duty of care cannot end at the lecture hall door. It must extend to the mind that is meant to absorb knowledge. This requires a radical shift in approach. It is not enough to have one overworked counsellor for 10,000 students. I am not an expert on mental health issues but we need a strategy to overcome these things.

First, de-stigmatization must be a core curriculum. Mental health literacy should be taught alongside communication skills. We must normalise conversations about stress and anxiety from the very first week of orientation, making it clear that seeking help is a sign of strength and not weakness.

Second, we must train our gatekeepers. Lecturers, hostel wardens and even fellow students should be equipped with basic mental health first -aid skills. They need to recognise the signs , the sudden withdrawals , the drop in grades , the cries of help disguised as jokes and know how to respond with compassion and not with punishment.

Third, we need to built a community, not just facilities. A mental health care is useless if students are afraid to walk into it. Universities must foster peer support networks ,safe spaces where students can share their burdens without judgement. Sometimes the most powerful therapy is knowing you are not alone.

As Dennis Kamunya wrote his final message, " The greatest thing about my life was that I got to learn evolution. I belonged to one of the few generations that got to know and possibly why we are here ". He knew why he was here . He understood his place in the world but understanding alone could not save him.

The " silent crisis in the hallways" is a test of our national character. It asks whether we value our product, the graduate, more than the person. As a country, we pour billions into higher education, hoping to build the next generation of leaders , innovators and doctors but we are building them on a foundation of sand.

The mind of a student is not a machine to be programmed for exams. It is a garden, and right now , in the hallowed halls of universities, too many of these gardens are withering in the dark. It is time to open the windows , let in the light and finally tend to the souls we claim to be educating. The future of our nation depends on it . 

If you are a student struggling with mental health challenges, please reach out to your university's counselling department or call the Kenya Red Cross toll-free suicide prevention hotline: 1199. You are not alone.