In Nairobi’s Lavington area, at the Forhome Apartments, a 32-year-old woman named Mercy Wachiga Maina was discovered to have died in her apartment several weeks after she had last been seen.
The body of Maina was found on Thursday, September 3, following the neighbours reporting that a strong odour was coming from her apartment on the 10th floor. The police stated that she had not been seen since August 12.
On arrival at the apartment the officers found that the door had been locked from the inside; they then broke it open and discovered that Maina’s body was on the bed in the house.
A jiko containing burnt charcoal was discovered at the scene, and the crime scene staff dealt with the apartment before the body was taken to the City Mortuary for further examination.
The police believe that Maina died by suicide and that they have verified the note which she left behind. Nevertheless, the precise circumstances and the motive concerning her death are still unclear, as stated by both the police and her family.
Maina asked people not to pass judgment and instead told them to display love and compassion.
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She also asked her mother to forgive her and stated her preferences concerning her remains, which were that she should either be cremated or buried in a river, since she loved rivers.
Maina also asked that her possessions be given to her mother and told her landlord that she was grateful for him not evicting her even though she had been having difficulties in paying the rent.
The note indicated that Maina had been thinking about her decision for a while. She stated that she had been awake since 4 a.m. trying to work out how to proceed, even though she knew that other people might see her decision unfavourably.
She had also left her cat inside the apartment.
It has not yet been determined by the police or her family what the reason for her death was, since the investigations are still ongoing.
The case has raised renewed concerns about the importance of recognising emotional distress and offering support to people who may be struggling in silence
