Mystery Surrounds Death of 21-Year-Old Hotel Intern After Fall from Upper Hill Building

By Faith Owuor

Police have launched investigations into the death of a 21-year-old hotel intern who died after falling from the 22nd floor of a residential building in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area under circumstances that remain unclear.

The deceased, identified as Margaret Wambui, was undertaking an internship at a hotel in Upper Hill. According to her family, she left their home in Kasarani on Saturday evening at around 7:00 p.m., informing them that she was heading to work. However, relatives say there is no evidence that she reported to her workplace that night. Instead, investigators believe she later accessed Altura Apartments in Upper Hill, where the fatal incident occurred.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Wambui arrived at the apartment complex at approximately 10:00 p.m. before proceeding to the rooftop on the 22nd floor, where she is believed to have been taking photographs. A security guard stationed on the rooftop reportedly saw her moments before the incident but told investigators that he briefly left the area to use the washroom. When he returned, Wambui was no longer on the rooftop. Her body was later discovered on a neighbouring property.

Police officers responding to the scene recovered Wambui’s handbag from the rooftop. The bag contained her mobile phone, hotel work uniform, and other personal belongings, all of which have been retained as exhibits as detectives seek to establish the sequence of events leading to her death.

According to the family, concern grew after one of Wambui’s friends informed her mother that repeated attempts to reach her by phone had been unsuccessful. The family says they were later instructed to report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Kilimani, where they were formally notified of her death.

The family has questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident, maintaining that Wambui had shown no signs of distress before leaving home. They are calling for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of her death.

Detectives are expected to review CCTV footage from the apartment complex, interview potential witnesses, and analyse forensic evidence collected at the scene as part of the ongoing investigation. A post-mortem examination is also expected to assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the fatal fall.

No arrests have been made, and police have not indicated whether they are treating the death as an accident, suicide, or a case of suspected foul play. Investigations remain ongoing.