A village in Homa Bay County is mourning after a Form Four student tragically shot himself with his father’s pistol.

The boy, identified as Passy Juma Odhiambo, 17, was a student at Maseno National School in Kisumu County.

He took his life in the compound of Mawego National Polytechnic, located in Rachuonyo North sub-county.

Phone confiscated

Passy, who is the son of a police officer, reportedly ended his own life following an incident where his mother confiscated his mobile phone at their home in Karairo Village, Kokwanyo Location, Rachuonyo East Sub-county.

According to Rachuonyo North Sub-county Police Commander Peter Wallah, the boy planned the act by waiting for his father to enter the bathroom before carrying out the tragic event on Monday, June 29, 2026.

Once his father was in the bathroom, Passy took the pistol and left the family compound.

“He jumped over the perimeter wall of Mawego National Polytechnic, landing in the compound where he then shot himself,” Wallah said.

“His father is a police officer stationed in Meru County. He waited for his father to go into the bathroom and discreetly took the pistol.”

The police commander explained that Passy made the decision to end his life as an expression of his dissatisfaction with his mother’s intervention meant to help him focus on his studies.

Declining academic performance

His mother had discovered that his academic performance was declining and seized the mobile phone to encourage him to concentrate more on his education.

Wallah emphasised the importance of parents being attentive to their children to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

“I also urge residents to engage in guidance and counselling. This can help individuals who are facing problems,” he said.

The precise reasons behind the student’s choice to commit suicide in the polytechnic compound remain unclear. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

“We have confiscated the pistol used in the act, and investigations are ongoing,” Wallah added.

The student’s body has been moved to the Rachuonyo South Sub-county Hospital mortuary in Oyugis Town.