A public inquest seeking to unravel circumstances that led to the death of a barmaid in Kayole, Nairobi, two years ago has begun. This is after the deceased’s former workmate was called upon to give her testimony into the case.
Terresiah Nyamu Kiiru appeared before Makadara Senior Resident Magistrate Lewis Gatheru to recount the last moments she had with Jacinta Njoki, the deceased who reportedly succumbed to injuries she sustained after falling from the fourth floor of her residential place.
Terresiah told the court that Njoki was recovered at the ground floor of her apartment in the Rasta area in Kayole where she lived with her boyfriend.
She told the court that on the night of April 5, 2019, the day the fatal incident occurred, the deceased was with her at the bar where she also worked as a cashier.
She said that as they continued with their daily duties, Njoki’s boyfriend came into the bar with another woman.
At the time, she said, Njoki and her boyfriend were not on good terms. She claimed that there were times when Njoki could come to work with visible injuries after fighting with the boyfriend.
“On the fateful day, I was at the bar when Njoki (deceased) arrived as usual. We worked together smoothly for hours before her boyfriend arrived in the company of another lady. At the time, Njoki and her boyfriend were not on good terms,” she said.
Adding: ” There are times Njoki could come to work with visible injuries which she claimed were caused by the boyfriend.”
She further revealed that Njoki’s boyfriend later left the bar alongside the lady, a move that troubles the deceased forcing her to indulge in heavy drinking.
“At about 10:00 pm, I noticed that Njoki was very drunk and unable to work. I, therefore, advised her to go home and take a rest. That was the last time she saw her alive,” she narrated.
In an affidavit before the court, police say that they are yet to determine whether Njoki accidentally fell, committed suicide or was pushed off the balcony by another person.
