This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
Tragic Death of a 14-Year-Old Girl in Bomet County ¶
On Friday, September 6, 2019, 14-year-old Jackline Chepngeno, a Standard Six pupil at Kabiangek Primary School in Konoin Sub-County, Bomet County, started her day like any other.
However, her life took a tragic turn when she experienced her first menstrual period, leaving her confused and humiliated by her female teacher.
According to her mother, Beatrice Koech, the teacher embarrassed and humiliated Jackline before the entire class, calling her "dirty" for soiling her dress and kicking her out.
With no pads to use, Jackline was left standing outside the classroom, overwhelmed by shame and eventually deciding to hang herself using a leso she was carrying.
Police arrived at the scene to find the girl had committed suicide, and her body was taken to Kapkatet Hospital mortuary.
Her parents reported the matter to police on the same day, but the case never moved an inch, leading to a protest by parents four days later.
Police lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse the parents, who were demanding to know why the female teacher had not been summoned or questioned by the police.
The school was hurriedly closed as teachers sent children home, and the community was left to mourn the loss of a young promising girl who could have made a positive contribution to development in society.
