Police in Mombasa have arrested a middle-aged man on suspicion of being involved in the death of his wife.
The body of Esther Mwende, a resident of Kisumu Ndogo slum, was found hanging from a rope tied to the roof of their bedroom.
Mwende’s husband, Mbuvi Fundi, said he heard the alarm go off at 4am Friday, and when he woke up, he saw his partner’s body dangling from the roof.
Police have since arrested Mbuvi in connection with Mwende’s death, saying they cannot rule out murder as a possibility.
Mwende’s body was taken to the Coast Provincial General Hospital morgue.
The middle-aged woman’s demise has left many, including those who interacted with her on Thursday, shocked.
“Mwende babysat my child on Thursday. Throughout my interaction with her, she did not portray any signs of being mentally or emotionally disturbed,” said Rose Chacha, a neighbour who hired Mwende on temporary terms.
“I am not sure if domestic wrangles pushed her to her death,” added Chacha.
Mbuvi and Mwende’s landlord, Christopher Kimani, told police
that Mbuvi called him early Friday to inform him that Mwende had committed
suicide while he was asleep.
“He asked me to go to their house, which I did. Upon arriving, I found his wife’s
body hanging from a cloth tied to the roof. I, immediately, reported the
incident to police,” Kimani told K24
Digital.
The property owner says Mbuvi confided in him that he [Mbuvi] had, on Thursday night, differed with Mwende over a planned trip to Ukambani, Mwende’s rural home.
“Mbuvi told me that he disagreed with his spouse after asking her to postpone her trip to Ukambani because he did not have money to give her,” said Kimani.
Nyali Sub-County Deputy Police Commander, Dafalla Ibrahim Dafalla, said Mbuvi was arrested for questioning.
“We are waiting for autopsy results to reveal Mwende’s cause of death,” said Dafalla.
