Mum Of Jobless Engineering Graduate Who Set Himself Ablaze In Mombasa Says He Was Bright: "Scored A Minus"

• Robert Gituhu, a jobless engineering graduate from Kiambu, lost his life after setting himself ablaze in Mombasa
• The 27-year-old was protesting against the high living cost, and his mother, Rose Mineh, recounted his last moments
• She also shared the aspirations of the bright young man who excelled throughout his schooling years

The mother of a young man who set himself ablaze in Mombasa, leading to his death, has spoken out.

What happened before Robert Gituhu burned himself?

On Thursday, August 17, 27-year-old Robert Gituhu died at the Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital hours after the incident. His act was a protest against joblessness and high living cost.

According to his mother, Rose Mineh, he left home on Sunday, August 12, without informing them where he was headed.

Gituhu ignored her phone calls, and the family grew concerned as days passed.

They launched a social media campaign to locate him, with the poster indicating that he was mentally disturbed.

Mineh told Nairobi News that her son was a bright student with high hopes.

Gituhu scored an impressive 400 marks in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations and joined Kijabe High School. He rose to the school captain and got an A- in the 2012 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams.

What was Robert Gituhu's dream?

The bright young man joined the University of Eldoret and graduated with a Mechanical and Production Engineering degree.

“He was very reserved, responsible, obedient, hardworking, humble, and always respected everyone as he grew up,” the mourning mother said.

Mineh disclosed that her son had political ambitions, as he wanted to become a legislator.

“My son believed he was a leader. He hoped to get a job after graduating and work for years before joining politics.

He often asked how I would feel if he became an MP or governor. Sadly, this did not happen.”

What Kenyans said about Robert Gituhu

Kenyans mourned Gituhu, most saying depression was a growing problem.

"Depression is rampant nowadays. The least we can do is just to be kind to everyone," wrote one person.

"I mourn with his family for losing such a young man. May God heal anyone who is fighting battles they can't speak about," added another.