Detectives in Kilimani have arrested five Sudanese nationals in connection with the mysterious death of Zaituni Kavaya, a 54-year-old woman from Kibera who was employed as a laundry worker, under circumstances that raise serious questions about what happened.
Kavaya, who was known locally as “Mama Fua,” had been hired to do laundry on the fifth floor of an apartment building on Mpunga Road in Kilimani. Her daughter, Faith, says she was performing her duties when she was summoned back by her employer over a missing sum of money. When Kavaya did not return home, police contacted her daughter to report that Kavaya had fallen from the building. The family later confirmed her death at City Mortuary.
According to court documents read during a detention hearing, the disagreement that day involved money that was allegedly taken from a pair of trousers washed by Kavaya. The son of the house claimed money was missing, and when the matter was raised, Kavaya denied having taken it. She was asked to return for further questioning. The defense claims she tried to leave but fell from the balcony during that attempt.
Kavaya’s family disputes this version. When they collected her items from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), they say all they found were Ksh. 160 in her purse, her slippers, a dress, and rubber sandals. Faith, her daughter, emphasized that her mother had left home healthy and expected to come back safely. “There was nothing else,” she said.
The postmortem examination at Nairobi City Mortuary found that Kavaya died from multiple injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. These findings challenge the explanation that she simply fell after trying to escape and suggest there may have been violence or force involved.
Detectives from Kilimani Police Station arrested five suspects, all originally from Sudan, who are being held as investigations continue. They are currently in custody at the same station, awaiting further investigation and formal charges.
The family is calling for a full and impartial inquiry, demanding justice for Kavaya. They expressed grief and anger, particularly over what appears to be conflicting stories about what actually happened, and over issues of transparency. One family member asked for protection for Kenya’s citizens working for foreign nationals, reinforcing concerns about safety for domestic workers.
Legal observers say that the case will raise important questions about employer responsibility, worker protection, and how deaths in the workplace are investigated. Given that the circumstances are disputed, courts will likely examine eyewitness testimony, the medical evidence, and what exactly happened leading to Kavaya’s fall.
For now, the arrest of these five suspects marks a key stage in the case, but much remains unsettled. The public and Kavaya’s family await further clarity: the next courtroom proceedings will be critical in determining accountability.
