In what could turn out to be one of most dramatic suicide case, a university student on Tuesday went missing after taking what's believed to be poison.
For days now, the family of Alvin Muge, a second year student at Kirinyaga University taking Math and Computer Science, has been searching for him without success.
On Saturday, his classmates led by Charles Kariuki spent the entire day searching for him but only pumped into the phone and open shoes he was wearing when he reportedly took what's believed to be poison.
According to Charles, the phone and a bottle of soda which he was last seen drinking a substance from were recovered at River Thiba in Kirinyaga.
"We have been searching for him. He was last seen on Tuesday but since then, nobody knows where he is. His girlfriend released a video that he sent last," Kariuki said.
"We have however recovered his phone and open shoes he was putting on at that time. Also, the bottle captured on the video is there," he added.
The items were recovered along the shores of River Thiba, but it's not clear whether he drowned himself or he decided to pull a prank on his peers and family.
Edward Ondigi, a close friend to the family, said it's only the girlfriend who was privy to the troubles of the teenager and has since released some of details that could help authorities locate him alive or dead.
In one of the WhatsApp chats with his supposed girlfriend, Mr Muge threatens to commit suicide, painting his family as unsupportive and irresponsible.
"We don't know whether he committed suicide or he just decided to pull a drill. It's a situation that nobody is able to predict. We hope the bottle will be analysed to establish the substance he was drinking."
Although the matter was reported to Kutus Police post, no immediate efforts have been put in place to locate him alive or dead. The institution has also remained mum.
In the video, Muge, who hails from Bahati constituency in Nakuru, is seen drinking a substance from the bottle. It lasts for six seconds only. He allegedly sent it to his girlfriend before going off air.
Cases of suicide in institutions of higher learning are synonymous. Brother Francis Monari, Deputy Dean of Students in Kisii University, says students should make use of counseling departments.
"These children come from different social backgrounds and some commit suicide due to poverty or relationship challenges. There is need for them to seek counseling," he said on phone.
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