Mystery after hotel intern falls to death at Upper Hill building

Wambui, an intern at a hotel in the area, allegedly went to the rooftop to take photographs at about 10:00 PM before her body was found in a neighboring building minutes later. Police recovered her bag containing her phone, work uniform, and other personal items.

Hours after they received the tragic news of the passing of their kin, family members trooped to Altura Apartments in Upper Hill, where Wambui reportedly fell from the rooftop on the 22nd floor on Saturday night. 

Their mission was to get answers on what really transpired after they received a distressing call from Wambui's friend.

"She told me that she couldn't reach her and that she felt very uneasy, sensing that her friend was not okay. She then told me that when she tried calling Wambui's phone, it was answered by someone else who told her to look for her family members so they could go to the DCI Kilimani office,” recalls Wambui’s mother Wangari Gathogo. 

What puzzles the family is that Wambui, who is on an attachment at a hotel, left home at 7:00 PM heading to her workplace internship. 

There are no reports that she ever arrived at the hotel. The only information available is that she accessed Altura Apartments at 10:00 PM. 

Reports indicate she went to the reception area, left minutes later, and went to the 22nd floor to take photos. Sources say there was a security guard on the rooftop who saw her taking photos, but he did not see the moment she fell as he had gone to the washroom.

“The DCI officer I found there told me they were informed that the child fell from the top of the building or threw herself down—either she accidentally fell or jumped. There was no secured crime scene, but the child's body had already been taken and is currently at the City Mortuary,” says Muigai Gathogo, a relative of the deceased. 

The body of the late Wambui was found in an adjacent building. Her handbag, which contained her phone, workplace clothes, and other items, was recovered on the rooftop—a discovery that has left the family with more questions than answers, bearing in mind Wambui was allegedly taking photos using her phone on the rooftop. The family has ruled out suicide.

"We want to know whether she was pushed, whether she jumped, whether she was killed inside a room, or what exactly happened so that we can get justice for our child. If she had done any wrong, we should be told,” Muigai adds. 

"She didn't have any stress at all. She would just come home, sleep, wake up when it was time to go to work in the evening, and leave. She didn't have any issues,” Wangari says.

Detectives from Kilimani Police Station who are investigating the mysterious death are expected to review CCTV footage that captured Wambui's last moments. 

The body of the late Wambui is lying at the Nairobi Funeral Home, with the autopsy expected to be conducted later this week.