A student from the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) has taken his own life after losing Ksh15,000 in a bet.
Identified as Brian Ongwae, the 22-year-old student is reported to have placed a bet on a popular platform named the ‘Aviator Game’ using cash meant for his school fees.
However, he lost all the money instead of doubling it as he had hoped. Frustrated, Ongwae locked himself in his apartment located at Raila village in Langata constituency.
Neighbours reported that he did not leave the house and while locked up inside, was heard speaking on the phone with an identified person.
Concerned neighbors went to his house on Wednesday, March 27, only to find his lifeless body dangling from the roof and called the police immediately.
Also Read: Last Moments of University Student Who Killed Self After Crashing Laptop
Area Chief’s Report on the Death of the Student
Muguimoini area chief George Mukuria indicated that his body was hanging from the rooftop and a note was found addressed to his mother.
Further, Mukuria detailed that the note left behind asked the mother of the 22-year-old to remain strong despite the incident.
According to him, the student may have been suffering from depression after continuously losing money to betting. He asked the youth to refrain from such addictive and risky practices.
His body was taken to the City Mortuary pending an autopsy.
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In a separate incident on March 26, a 23-year-old Kisii University student committed suicide inside a rental house in Gekomu area, after sharing a meal with his roommate and watching movies until late into the night.
He was reported to have spoken to an identified person over the phone before suddenly getting agitated and throwing his laptop on the floor.
When the roommate asked about his reaction and why he threw the laptop on the floor, the student asked him not to worry about the laptop as it was already broken. His body was later discovered after he had committed suicide.
Gambling and Betting among Kenyan Students
Research conducted by MIT Technology Review indicated that a high percentage of university students in Kenya engage in betting, with prevalence rates exceeding 78%.
Additionally, the study detailed that betting among the students is driven by factors such as financial constraints, the need to make quick money and peer pressure.
“Many students turn to sports betting as a means of meeting their daily needs and university fees, with some even using their fees or daily needs money to place bets.
“The rise of online betting platforms, facilitated by mobile money transactions and widespread smartphone usage, has further fueled the growth of betting addiction among Kenyan youths,” the report indicates.
The aviator game, which has become popular among Kenyan youth, is an online casino game launched in 2019. It involves a 2D plane taking off, with players placing bets on when they believe the virtual plane will ‘fly off’.
The longer the plane goes, the higher the betting multiplier, but if players don’t cash out before the plane flies off, they lose their stake. The game is entirely randomized, making it challenging to predict outcomes.
