Fresh details have emerged in court over the controversial death of 55-year-old Kibera mother, Zaitun Kavaya, as Advocate Danstan Omari sharply cross-examined the man who was once charged with her murder.
Hussan Ahmed, whose initial murder charge was later reduced to an inquest, told the court that Kavaya died after allegedly jumping from the balcony of his fifth-floor apartment. According to Ahmed, the incident followed a confrontation over Sh5,000 he claimed had gone missing after the deceased washed his trousers.
Ahmed testified that when he threatened to call the police if the money was not returned, Kavaya became frightened and attempted to jump from the balcony. He claimed he stopped her the first time, but moments later she climbed onto the balcony grills and began hanging off the edge.
He further told the court that he held onto her hands for nearly two minutes in an attempt to save her, but she slipped and fell to her death.
However, Advocate Omari put Ahmed under intense questioning, pressing him to confirm whether he was the last person to hold Kavaya before she fell — and suggesting he may have pushed her. Ahmed firmly denied the accusation, maintaining that he was only trying to rescue her.
Police initially supported the suicide theory, stating that Kavaya jumped from the apartment balcony. But her family has consistently rejected that account, insisting she was killed and demanding a thorough investigation.
A post-mortem conducted at City Mortuary revealed that Kavaya died from multiple organ injuries caused by blunt force trauma consistent with a high-impact fall. While the findings align with the possibility of a fall from height, they do not conclusively settle the question of whether it was suicide or homicide.
The inquest continues as the court seeks to establish the truth behind the tragic death.
