NAIROBI, Kenya – Detectives have launched investigations into the death of a 22-year-old woman who died after allegedly falling from the rooftop of a 22-storey building in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area.
The incident was reported at around 1.30 am on Sunday after the building’s management was alerted by a security guard who discovered the woman’s body on an adjacent property.
Police officers responding to the scene found the body of Margaret Wambui lying on the ground with multiple fractures consistent with injuries sustained from a fall from a significant height.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Wambui is believed to have fallen from the rooftop of the building after accessing the 22nd floor.
A bag recovered from the rooftop contained personal belongings, including a small purse, a Visa card and an IEBC voter registration card bearing her name, helping investigators establish her identity.
According to police, Wambui, who was undertaking an internship at a hotel in the Upper Hill area, is believed to have gone to the rooftop at around 10 pm to take photographs before the incident occurred.
Investigators established that Wambui had left her family’s home in Kasarani at about 7 pm, informing them she was heading to her workplace for her internship.
However, preliminary findings indicate there is no evidence that she arrived at the hotel. Instead, investigators established that she accessed Altura Apartments at about 10 pm.
Police said CCTV footage and witness accounts indicate Wambui briefly visited the reception area before proceeding to the building’s rooftop.
A security guard stationed on the rooftop reportedly saw her taking photographs but told investigators he did not witness the actual fall after briefly leaving the area to use the washroom.
Authorities are investigating whether the incident was accidental or whether other circumstances may have contributed to her death.
Meanwhile, Wambui’s family has dismissed speculation that she may have taken her own life, insisting she had not shown any signs of emotional distress or behaviour that would suggest such intentions.
The family is now calling for a thorough and transparent investigation to establish exactly what happened in the moments leading up to her death.
Police documented the scene before moving the body to the Nairobi City Funeral Home, where a post-mortem examination and formal identification are expected to form part of the ongoing investigations.
Investigators say inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing.