Death of woman shocks locals, say she looked healthy

Shocked villagers outside the house of Faith Kerubo, 24, who was found dead at Soko Mjinga, Daraja Mbili, in Kisii County. Police are investigating the death. PHOTO | ELGAR MACHUKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Faith Kerubo, 24, was an orphan who earned a living by selling millet and vegetables at the famous Daraja Mbili market.
  • Residents said the orphan and the only child in her family had been living in the mud-walled structure since her mother passed away two and a half years ago.

The body of a young woman was discovered on Wednesday in her one-roomed house at Soko Mjinga, Nyanchwa estate, in Kisii Town.

Neighbours said Faith Kerubo, 24, was jovial and appeared in perfect health the last time they saw her on Monday evening.

Ms Kerubo was an orphan who earned a living by selling millet and vegetables at the famous Daraja Mbili market.

“She was in a jovial mood on Monday evening,” said Janet Ndong’o, one of her neighbours.

“She even offered one of us some millet. She then retired to her house never to return,” Ms Ndong’o added.

Another neighbour, Christine Moraa, said they got worried after she failed to report to work as usual.

She said she and her neighbours decided to break into her house after she failed to respond to their calls.

“We forced open the window and sent a child to unlock the door from inside. That is when we found Faith tucked in her bed, her body cold,” she said.

Residents said the orphan and the only child in her family had been living in the mud-walled structure since her mother passed away two and a half years ago.

She was described as quiet, soft-spoken, reserved and hardworking.

“We still do not understand what could have caused her death since she was not ill and she is loved by everyone because of her good character and hardworking nature,” said a tearful Nancy Mageka, one of her cousins.

Kisii County Police Commandant Agnes Mudambah said Ms Kerubo must have been ill at the time of her death.

“There was a lot of foam oozing from her mouth,” said Ms Mudambah.

“It seems that her family, from their reaction, did not know about the girl’s condition,” she said.

The body was taken to the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue for preservation and a post-mortem examination.