Kayole: Family defends son over pregnant lover's death, says she had threatened suicide

The family of a man questioned over the death of his estranged lover says he is innocent, claiming the deceased had indicated her intention to take her own life.

Antony Njuguna’s family stated that Bellacha Wambui, who was pregnant, had sent a text message to Njuguna indicating that she intended to take her own life and had also shown the message to his mother.

Wambui died after plunging from the fifth floor of a building in Kayole, Nairobi.

Detectives in Kayole are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, with Njuguna currently out on a Ksh.70,000 cash bail.

Njuguna said that he had been keeping his distance from Wambui and did not expect her to harm herself.

“Yaani tulikuwanga distance, hadi mimi sikuamini, sikukua na-expect anaweza akafanya kitu. Alinionyesha, nikatulia, sina mambo. Alikuwa karibu na mlango. Sasa mimi naongea na tenje kama hapo, na yeye ako hapa. Ukifungua mlango, ndio ile corridor alitoka kaa ameruka,"Njuguna stated. 

"Alifika chini hakukuwa amekufa hadi. Nilimshika hivi nikamuuliza, ‘Bella, sasa hizi ni gani? Haki, hadi kama umenipenda, mbona umejiua hii design? Si ungezaa tu. Umetoka huko kwenu ukuje ujiulie huku kwangu? Si nitaozea jela? Ni maisha yangu tu unaniharibia.’”

Njuguna’s mother, Hanah Gichimu, alleged that Wambui had sent her a message indicating that she intended to take her own life.

“Msichana ameshaenda na amenitumia message na amesema atajiua. Hiyo message akatuma akanionyesha, akaniambia amesema alikuwa anakupenda sana kama mama, lakini ameshindwa kuvumilia.”

The family stated that Wambui had been estranged from her mother and may have viewed Njuguna as her only remaining option.

“Watu wanasema alikuwa amekosana na mamake, so hangekuja kwa my mother. Alikuwa amefukuzwa na mamake, so hangerudi kwa mum. The only option she had ni kurudi kwa my bro, lakini kwa my bro amepata kuna mwanamke mwingine," Judy Njoroge, family member, stated. 

Detectives are continuing with investigations to establish the circumstances that led to Wambui’s death.