This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On Tuesday, a family in Kirinyaga was left reeling in shock after their eight year-old son, Benedict Wachira, took his own life over a dispute with his sister.
The tragic incident occurred at their home in Kiangwenyi village, Gichugu constituency, after Benedict's sister refused to let him use marking pencils.
According to his mother, Ms Jerusha Wanjiku, she had bought the pencils for her son to use during the holidays, but her sister had taken them and locked them in the cupboard without her knowledge.
When Benedict asked his sister to hand over the pencils, she declined, which seemed to have angered the young boy.
Police took the body to Kerugoya hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Ms Wanjiku recounted the events leading up to her son's death, saying: 'At first I could not believe when I was informed that my son was no more until I saw his body dangling on a rope.'
She also narrated how her son's brother discovered the body and fled in panic, reporting the matter to the family.
Ms Wanjiku's husband, Mr Simon Maina, was equally shocked by the news, saying: 'Initially I could not be convinced that such a young boy could kill himself.'
