In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 27-year-old engineering student, identified as Robert Gituru, passed away at the Coast General Hospital.
Gituru had set himself ablaze in a desperate attempt to end his own life on Thursday, August 17, when he doused himself with paraffin and ignited a fire at Mwembe Tayari in Mombasa.
Quick-acting well-wishers managed to rescue him from the flames and rushed him to the Coast General Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities are investigating a disturbing video that circulated widely, showing an individual aiding Gituru in his tragic act, where Mathias Shipeta, a Rapid Response officer from Haki Africa, has appealed to the police to bring the person seen in the video to justice.
"The video shows a man who should now be treated as a suspect. He facilitated the deceased in committing suicide by passing over a matchbox, which had fallen off after Gituru climbed onto a pillar on Jomo Kenyatta Avenue", Shipeta stated.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the student resorted to the drastic act due to financial difficulties.
"Our initial findings indicate that Gituru purchased paraffin and set himself on fire due to a lack of pocket money. He was unable to secure part-time work, leading to a sense of hopelessness that ultimately led to this tragic outcome," Ibrahim Basafr, the Chief Fire Officer Mombasa County, revealed.
Gituru's family, had reported his disappearance from their Limuru home three days to the tragic incident, and revealed that he had been battling mental illness.
The family is now making arrangements to transport his body back to Limuru for his final resting place.
The incident has prompted discussions about the need for increased awareness and action to address mental health issues among students and the wider community.
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