Nyamira, Kenya – The community of Nyamira Boys High School is in mourning after the tragic suicide of Kevin Omwenga, a beloved Chemistry and Mathematics teacher, following significant financial losses in online betting.
Kevin Omwenga, who had been teaching at Nyamira Boys Secondary School for the past four years under the Board of Management (BOM), was known for his dedication to his students and his passion for teaching. His untimely death has left colleagues and students in shock.
According to Area Assistant Chief Johnson Manyara, Omwenga was deeply in debt, having borrowed approximately Ksh50,000 ($380) from fellow teachers. Reports indicate that he lost most of this money playing Aviator, an online betting game he was avidly involved in.
Nyamira Boys School principal George Onkundi recounted that Omwenga was last seen near the school on Wednesday but failed to report to work. Despite his financial troubles, he did not exhibit any signs of distress to those around him.
Concern for Omwenga grew when calls to his phone went unanswered on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. A group of teachers decided to check on him at his home, where they made the heartbreaking discovery. After receiving no response to their knocks, they looked through a window and saw Omwenga’s body hanging.
Authorities, including the police and the area assistant chief, were promptly called to the scene. Omwenga’s wife and their one-year-old child were not at home at the time, as they were visiting his sick mother in the village.
The body has been taken to Nyamira Referral Hospital for further investigation. The community is now grappling with the loss of a dedicated educator and the tragic consequences of online betting addiction.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the pressures and dangers associated with gambling, prompting calls for increased support and resources for those struggling with addiction. The school and local authorities are expected to provide counseling services to help students and staff cope with this tragic loss.
