A 16-year-old Kenyan girl has been stabbed 20 times to death by her teenage friend for allegedly rejecting a  love proposal.

The deceased, Valerian Njeri, was reportedly stabbed by a 17-year-old boy after she turned down his request for a romantic relationship.

Her lifeless boy was found less than 100 metres from her home.

Kenya’s Nairobi News website reported that Valerian’s innocent gesture to return a book earlier given out to her by a neighbour she trusted had turned deadly.

The attacker, police investigators say, used the book to bait the unsuspecting girl and lured her into the house.

John Ndonu, Valerian’s father is yet to come to terms with the death of her firstborn child, whom she described as the family’s beacon of hope.

“She was everything a parent wanted in a child. She was obedient and loved education. She wanted to become a doctor and was passionate about it,” said the mourning father.

An academically brilliant student, she scored 346 marks in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education.

This got her admission into one of Kenya’s prestigious girls’ schools— Mary Leakey Girls School and was to join next year.

On the fateful day, Mr Ndonu recalls reminding her daughter to complete her house chores as well as her holiday assignments.

“She promised to do so the same day and we agreed I would append my signature on the school diary, as is the norm. That was the last time we spoke,” said Mr Ndonu, overcome with emotion.

Her mother, Mary Goleti Chepleting, said her daughter was a staunch Catholic and loved the church.

“We used to pray in turns whenever she was home,” she said.

Police say the suspect hid the body in his room before dumping it outside the family’s compound at night.