A teacher in Migori County has reportedly killed her daughter and taken her own life.
The body of Ms Sarah Boke Marwa, 33, was found dangling from a tree on her farm in Ntunyigi village, Kuria West.
Alongside Boke’s body was that of her daughter Dorcas Gati Mohagachi, who was just three months shy of her second birthday.
A police report about the January 7 incident showed that Ms Boke used a sisal rope to kill herself and her daughter.
On the fateful day, Ms Boke took lunch with her husband Daniel Chacha Mohagachi, 37.
Mr Chacha later left for Bukuria Primary School to pick up their other children, and upon arriving at home, he found his wife and the child missing.
“He looked for them and eventually found them hanging on a tree on his farm,” Kehancha town police said.
Domestic quarrels
The couple, both teachers, had a long history of domestic quarrels, and had recently reunited after living separately for some time.
In another case, Mr George Muhati, a teacher from Lubinu location in Mumias East, is reported to have killed himself on Tuesday this week.
The 54-year-old was said to have taken his own life in a poultry house using a manila rope.
A half-consumed chemical substance was found at the scene.
The two incidents are just the tip of the iceberg, with as many as 10 cases reported in the past one month from across the country.
The Kenya National Teachers Pressure Group says two of the incidents involved headteachers.
Two weeks ago, a primary school headteacher in Kitui killed himself as a result of family troubles.
House fire
Last month, a primary school teacher in Othaya, Nyeri County, died in a house fire he is suspected to have lit.
The 45-year-old, who was a recovering alcoholic, was said to have been alone in the house.
Kennedy Ochieng’, a 41-year-old teacher at Nyong’ong’a Secondary School in Nyakach, Kisumu County, took his own life in his home in Homa Bay.
The teacher reportedly hanged himself in Kalal village, Rachuonyo North sub-county in November last year.
Mr Akelo Misori, the secretary-general for the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), said depression due to work, family issues and hard economic times are major causes of suicide among teachers, as is the case with other Kenyans.
He proposed a serious study to determine the actual statistics, causes and remedy.
“But the cases are there. They are many and it is worrying. Some teachers over-commit to do certain things because they want to compete in this unequal society. Teachers want to live a good life and when these needs are not met, they fall into depression,” he said.
