Form one student dies by suicide after parents deny him mobile phone

A form one student has died by suicide over allegations that his parents denied him access to his mobile phone.

The deceased identified as Barack Onyango, a student at Naya Secondary school in Rarieda sub-county, took his life in his uncle's home in Gembe West Location, Mbita sub-county on Friday.

His body was found dangling from a tree in the cattle shed.

Witnesses claimed that the student may have made the decision after his parents confiscated a phone he had acquired.

According to the area Chief Michael Otieno, the 17-year-old boy returned home with a smartphone when schools were closed for the third term.

Otieno said the boy had been hiding the phone from his parents.

"He has been hiding the phone and has been charging it in a neighbour's homestead instead of his parents'. His main objective was to keep it without the knowledge of his parents," Otieno said.

However, his mother recently discovered that he had the phone and it was confiscated.

"We have tried to enquire why the boy decided to kill himself. We have discovered he was disillusioned by the parent's decision to take away the mobile phone," Otieno said.

The Chief said it is still not clear when and why the boy sneaked into his uncle's home before hanging himself.

Police have already launched a probe into the death of the teenager.

"The student's death is being investigated by police," Otieno said.

The body of the minor has been moved to Kirindo MED25 mortuary morgue as police launch investigations.