Family and friends of a university student from Thika, Kiambu County mourned her untimely death on the night of Sunday, March 17.
According to reports, the young woman, who was pursuing a nursing career, tragically fell from a neighboring apartment’s balcony while attempting to enter her own unit through the back door after inadvertently locking herself out. Witnesses suggest she may have been impaired by alcohol, leading to the fatal accident.
Her peers from the university expressed grief over her passing and raised questions about the circumstances that led to her death.
The management of the apartment complex extended their condolences to the bereaved family as investigations into the incident began. The police subsequently transported her body to the General Kago Funeral Home in Thika pending autopsy results.
The tragic event has sparked calls from Kenyans for stricter regulations to ensure the safety of tenants in residential buildings. Concerns have been raised about the increasing number of young university students losing their lives in unclear circumstances, with instances of suicides and fatal accidents becoming more frequent.
Recent incidents, such as the alleged stabbing of a first-year student by a fifth-year student at Machakos University and the fatal fall of a 22-year-old at Strathmore University’s Gateway Mall, underscore the urgency of addressing safety concerns in rental accommodations.
In response to the growing concerns, the government has implemented additional measures aimed at reducing the number of deaths among young Kenyans in rented apartments and short-stay accommodations.