Girl ‘ordered by teacher to repeat Class 6’ commits suicide

A 14-year-old girl from Kwang’ombe Village in Mikindani, Mombasa County committed suicide after she was allegedly ordered by her teacher at Amani Primary School to repeat Class Six.

Rehema Kalume’s body was found hanging from a leso tied to the roof of her parents’ makuti house at 10am Wednesday, January 8.

Her elder sister, Tatu Kadzo, who had returned home from selling mandazis at a nearby market was the one who discovered Rehema’s body.

“She [Rehema] did not leave behind a suicide note,” said Kadzo.

Her family, however, says she had earlier complained that one of her teachers declined she joins Class Seven beginning this year despite receiving the greenlight by the school’s management to advance.

K24 Digital was told that Rehema scored 207 marks out of the possible 500 in the 2019 Term Three exams.

The deceased’s mother described her as an “obedient” girl.

“I was against the proposal that she repeats Class Six, and was planning to transfer her to another school after getting money,” said Rehema’s mother.

Rehema’s body was taken to Coast Provincial General Hospital morgue.

Amani Primary School head-teacher, however, denied that Rehema had been ordered to repeat Class Six, saying: “She was yet to report to school after learning sessions resumed on January 6.”

“I am shocked by news of her death,” said the head teacher.