High school teacher, 30, kills herself ‘over Ksh1 million loan frustration’

By David Musundi.

A high school teacher from West Pokot County on Monday, December 21 died by suicide.

The body of Lucy Chebet Lokortodo, 30, a teacher at Kalya Mixed Secondary School in Kipkomo Sub-County, was found hanging from a rope tied to the roof of her kitchen.

The Chepareria resident is alleged to have taken a personal loan of Ksh1 million recently, and was “frustrated by how her relatives borrowed the money from her and squandered it”.

West Pokot County Police Commander Jackson Tumwet told K24 Digital that the caretaker of the house rented by Chebet informed the landlord of the incident Monday morning. The landlord, together with Chebet’s husband, thereafter, filed a report at Chepareria police post.

“Her body was taken to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital morgue pending autopsy,” Tumwet said.

“We hope subsequent investigations would confirm or reveal otherwise the cause of Chebet’s death,” he added.

The deceased’s landlord, Macelino Ruto Tukei, said Chebet had lived in his rental premises for three years.

“She lived with her family comprising her husband and children,” said Tukei.

The property owner said Chebet’s husband found her body hanging from the roof of their kitchen shortly after she woke up to prepare breakfast.

“After she took long to return to the bedroom, Chebet’s husband went to the kitchen, where he was shocked to find her body hanging from the rafters,” said Tukei.

The deceased’s partner said Chebet had recently landed employment with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) after working as a Board of Management (BOM) teacher for years.

“She did not leave behind any suicide note,” said the deceased’s spouse, who stated he had no idea what led to Chebet’s suicidal ideation.

The teacher’s close friends, however, suspect a Ksh1 million frustration pushed Chebet to her death.

“She recently got Ksh1 million loan from a local commercial bank. She said she wanted to use the money to develop herself economically. However, her relatives borrowed her a significant amount of the money and squandered it, leaving Chebet harbouring frustrations,” said one of Chebet’s close friends who spoke to K24 Digital on condition of anonymity.

According to the informant, Chebet was also planning to vie for the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Gender Secretary position in West Pokot County.

“Part of the money, was to be used in the campaigns,” said our source.