By JOSPHINE MWENDE 

According to Mbula, a relative of the victim, the incident occurred on the night of Saturday, October 10, 2026, after the suspect allegedly lured the student from her college to his residence.

Mbula said she received a phone call from the victim, who explained that the suspect had called her from his school and taken her to a hotel in the area where he works, against her wishes.

The victim reportedly refused to accompany him, but the suspect allegedly forced her to his house, where he hit her on the head with a hammer before repeatedly stabbing her with a knife as she lost consciousness.

The suspect is also alleged to have stabbed himself in the stomach before setting the house on fire in an apparent attempt to kill them both. However, neighbours reportedly rescued the two from the burning house.“My child is badly injured and was not even able to speak. She should be in school, but instead, she is receiving treatment in hospital. I am appealing for justice to be served,” Mbula said.

Both the student and the suspect are receiving treatment at Kitui County Referral Hospital.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, with investigations reportedly pending to establish what led to the alleged attack.

By MWINGI TIMES TEAM 

Sen Wambua challenged Health CS, Aden Duale, bestow on himself the responsibility of  regularly briefing and updating the country on the public health situation. "We want proper daily coordinated updates about Ebola", said the Senate  Deputy Minority Leader at Kabati Town, Kitui West constituency.

The Kitui Senator who has  declared his intention to vie for the Kitui Governor seat in 2027, vowed to tackle the issue of perennial camel invasions in the county. While clarifying that he had no issue with the Somali community who largely keep camels, he said camel herding is a situation that needs both county and national government  intervention. 

"When I will be elected Governor in Kitui County, no camel will be seen in Kitui County. I have nothing against Somalis as my best friend in the Senate is Ali Roba, the former Governor of Mandera County. But I will not equate the lives of my people in Kitui with those of camels", vowed Senator Wambua. 

On the recent groundbreaking of the launch of the Dangote Oil Refinery in Lamu County,  Senator  Wambua took issue with what he described as lies and lack of public participation  on the mega project. "Telling us it (the oil refinery) will employ 60,000 people is a white lie because the Lamu one is not the biggest refinery in the world. The biggest refinery in the world employs 7000 people. Besides, let's have it be opened", he said. 

The Wiper Patriotic Front Senator who is also a close ally of the party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka demanded that Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote should however publish the contract details of oil refinery. He also lamented that there was little public participation yet the law and the constitution demands the same to be done.

The Senator took issue with President William Ruto's message about Ngaaie limestone mining.  Ngaaie is in Mwingi North constituency,  Kitui county. 

"I heard that the president said next month a refinery will be opened in Ngaaie. As the representative of the people,  I do not know the investor."

Further, he termed illegal sand harvesting in Kitui County as destruction of the environment questioning why the illegal sand harvesters don't allegedly pay cess to the County Government of Kitui.

He vowed to operationalize the moriband Kitui County sand harvesting and management law to regulate the industry once elected governor on August 10th, 2027.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

NG-CDF Chairperson David Musyoki handed over the bus to the school on Friday, drawing jubilant celebrations from students who broke into exuberant dancing at the sight of the yellow vehicle. The school principal, David Murithi, school patron Munyoki Kathuo, Mumoni Sub-County Director of Education Osman Omar, teachers and parents were at hand to receive the bus.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Musyoki said the donation was a fulfilment of the MP’s promise to reward the school for its impressive performance in the 2025 KCSE examinations. He said Nzengu had been particularly impressed by the school’s results and believed that providing it with a bus would further motivate students and help sustain its academic excellence. “The school impressed our MP by putting the constituency not only on the county map but also on the national map in terms of performance in national examinations,” Musyoki said.

Kaundu Senior School emerged as Kitui County’s leader in the number of candidates qualifying for direct university admission, outperforming established institutions, including Kitui School. Of the 154 candidates who sat the 2025 KCSE examinations at Kaundu, 152 attained the minimum qualifications for direct university admission, while the remaining two achieved grades that would enable them to pursue courses at tertiary institutions.

The school posted a mean score of 8.6, surpassing its target of 8.0 despite challenges that included inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages and limited student accommodation.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Murithi described the bus as a major morale booster that would motivate learners to aim even higher in this year’s KCSE examinations. He expressed optimism that the school would raise its mean score to 9.0 in the 2026 examinations, building on its impressive performance in the previous year.

Kathuo described the donation as a great honour for the growing institution, pledging that the school community would work hard to sustain and improve its academic standards.

He also announced plans to introduce aviation and marine studies, saying the initiative was aimed at broadening students’ academic opportunities and preparing them for careers in specialised fields. The school’s strong KCSE performance has strengthened its position as one of the region’s emerging academic giants with the bus expected to support school activities and further boost students' morale.

By EMMAH KIHIU

And the student who appears to be coping may be quietly reaching a breaking point.

Behind closed hostel doors, as most students are asleep,a different kind of struggle begins for some students. Some stare at their phones all night ,other lie awake worrying about the following day or problems they cannot bring themselves to discuss with anyone. 

To a passerby, they may look like ordinary university students attending lectures, laughing with friends and posting pictures and funny quotes online, but beneath the smiles ,some are fighting battles that nobody sees.

University is often described as a period of freedom, discovery and new opportunities, but with academic pressure, financial difficulties and relationship problems, emotional distress and depression arise.

Most carry the distress alone with fear that if they speak out nobody would understand them better. Stacy, a fourth year student battling depression recalls, "I hadn't slept more than two weeks. My heart was racing constantly and I felt this crushing weight in my chest.

CATs had began, exams were approaching, my fees was unpaid ,I had no gatepass meaning I couldn't access the school. 

There was no hope. Every time I thought about  asking for help, I froze. I thought everyone else was managing and if I break it means I am weak or simply don't fit here,so I kept quiet."

Many students, despite the mounting challenges, do not seek help. For some, admitting that they are struggling is viewed as a sign of weakness. Some fear being judged by friends and family members but they do not realise that it's causing a damage in their mental health.

They may describe themselves as simply being tired ,stressed or sleepy and continue pushing through the problem until it becomes more difficult to manage. The silence carry a more serious consequence.

Students needs to understand that seeking help is not a sign of failure. A simple statement like "I am not okay "can be the beginning of getting support. 

Most of the universities have guidance and counselling programmes that are accessible by all students and are confidential. Friends should play an important role by noticing when someone begins withdrawing or behave differently. Lecturers can create an environment where students feel comfortable discussing difficulties without fear of humiliation. 

Seeking psychological support should be viewed same as treating a physical injury. Until the society and institutions prioritize wellbeing alongside academic achievement, the silent struggle inside the hostels and lecture halls will continue to demand our attention. 

 

As universities prepare students for careers and professional life, they must also help them develop the support system and coping skills needed to face emotional challenges. Students should be encouraged to seek help and see asking for help as strength rather than weakness.

Some times the student who needs help most is the one who looks like they need it the least.