University Student Who Set Himself On Fire Dies
According to Haki Africa Rapid Response officer, Mathias Shipeta, the student, Robert Gituru, died at the Coast General Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday morning, August 18.
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A 28-year-old student who was on Thursday, August 17 captured in a viral video setting himself on fire in Mwembe Tayari, Mombasa, has died.
According to Haki Africa Rapid Response officer, Mathias Shipeta, the student, Robert Gituru, died at the Coast General Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday morning, August 18.
Shipeta told the media that the deceased's family had arrived in Mombasa following the tragedy and disclosed that Gituru had been battling mental illness at the time of the shocking incident.
"He has been battling mental illness and on so many occasions he kept on complaining that life had become unbearable for him and he saw no need to live," Shipeta said.
Haki Africa Rapid Response officer Mathias Shipeta (centre) addresses journalists outside the Coast General Referral Hospital morgue on August 18, 2023. /K24 DIGITAL
Regarding a man who was caught on camera aiding Gituru to take his own life, Shipeta called on the police to bring him to book.
"There is a video which has been widely circulated of a man who now should be treated as a suspect. He assisted the deceased in committing suicide by passing over a matchbox which had fallen off after he climbed on a pillar at the Jomo Kenyatta avenue," he added.
Gituru's family had reported the deceased missing from their Limuru home, three days ago. They are now planning to ferry their kin's body to Limuru ahead of burial preparations.
On Thursday, August 17, hours after the incident occurred, Mombasa County Chief Fire Officer, Ibrahim Basafar revealed that Gituru had suffered 50 per cent burns after he doused himself with paraffin and later set himself ablaze in Mwembe Tayari.
Kioko was captured in the video standing atop a concrete block near a petrol station around the area and setting himself alight as horrified onlookers watched and recorded using their phone cameras.
Screams and shouts from the onlookers were heard while others merely watched in dismay as the student stumbled and fell to the ground.
Another individual was seen rushing over to him as people gathered around to understand what was happening.
Another clip however showed him claiming that he set himself ablaze out of frustration of Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, losing the 2022 general elections despite claiming that the former Prime Minister won.
The student however fell short of explaining how the outcome of the poll was connected to setting himself on fire.
Basafar revealed that Gituru was rescued by well-wishers moments after his body went up in flames.
"He set himself ablaze and began to burn. A huge crowd that had gathered helped in putting out the fire that had consumed part of his flesh," he said.
Earlier reports had indicated that he was allegedly protesting the high cost of living in the country, but Basafar indicated that preliminary investigations pointed out the student's woes regarding the lack of pocket money as the reason he set himself ablaze.
The rise in the cost of living has pushed many Kenyans to the edge, with complaints online regarding how difficult it has become to afford even the most basic items such as bread and sugar.
