Image: COURTESY
Police in Machakos are investigating an incident where a first-year university student mysteriously died in Athi River, Machakos County.
Mercy Jerono Kwambai, 18, a Daystar University student, on the Athi River campus, is said to have died by suicide at a hostel in the Daystar area within Athi River South on September 8, 2023.
The matter was reported to Athi River police station as a suicide incident report on September 9 at 3.15 am.
Police said the incident was reported by the varsity’s security coordinator Patrick Darizu.
“He reported that there was a body of a female first-year student lying in a pool of blood at the Patience West hostel washroom at Daystar University," a police report seen by the Star reads in part.
"Police officers and DCI personnel visited the scene and it was established that the deceased Mercy Jerono Kwambai had locked herself inside the toilet and committed suicide by stabbing herself on the left side of the chest using a kitchen knife.”
The deceased’s body according to the police was discovered by her fellow students who gained entry by jumping over the walls of the toilets and opening the door.
The scene was processed and documented by the officers before it was removed to Shalom Community Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
In another incident still in Athi River barely a kilometre from the above tragedy, a police officer died by suicide in less than 24 hours after the student reportedly stabbed herself to death.
The body of Corporal James Kimathi Riungu was found in his compound Saturday long after he had died.
It’s claimed the officer locked himself in the compound before he hanged himself in the chicken house.
The deceased was attached to police headquarters, transport pool section. He was alone at the time of the incident.
The motive for the incident was not immediately known. The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy, police said.
Eastern regional police commander Joseph Ole Napeiyan said they were investigating the incident.
Napeiyan said the motive was yet to be known.
