UON medicine student dies by suspected suicide at campus swimming pool

The third year Bachelor of Medicine student was found at the bottom of the pool Tuesday morning.

It is suspected that Dennis Kamunya died of suicide after posting several ominous messages on his X account, clearly expressing his battles with depression and substance abuse.

According to a statement from the University of Nairobi Student Association (UNSA), he was found in the early hours of April 22, 2025.

"Dennis was a bright and promising student, known for his dedication to his studies, his warmth and his quiet strength. His passing is a painful loss not only to his classmates and lecturers, but also to the entire Health Science community." 

UNSA also used the statement as a call to action regarding mental health among students, emphasising the need for open conversations. "As a community of future healthcare providers, we must continue to normalise open conversations about mental well-being, checking in on each other, and seeking help when we need it. No one should have to struggle i silence," the statement signed by UNSA's Joseph Kariuki Njogu said.

Chilling messages on his social media platforms, especially on X, show Dennis was struggling with addiction and mental health. 

"The greatest thing about my life was that I got to learn about evolution. I belonged to one of the few generations that got to know how and possibly why we are here," he posted on X. 

Another disturbing post read: "Even though anxiety/depression/drug addiction kicked my a*s, I still count myself lucky..."

And on the day he ended his own life, he posted on his WhatsApp stories: "At the bottom of the swimming pool. Apologies for any resulting inconvenience..."

Yet again on X, he would share an unsettling poem, which succinctly captured his end: "At the bottom of the pool. Down where the water is silent and deep, I rest. Where the bubbles and secrets sleep. I didn't mean to cause a fuss or offense, But better to drown than live forever tense..."

He even changed his X bio to : "I fought and I lost. Now I rest..."

UoN students are only allowed to swim at the campus pool in the afternoons. 

Police investigating the incident, saying his cause of death will be revealed once a postmortem is done.