NHIF employee who died in Nairobi CBD was shot by a sniper - autopsy

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have launched a probe into the death of an National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) employee who died in Nairobi's CBD.

Earlier reports indicated that the deceased, Lilian Waithera, collapsed and died along Kaunda Street in Nairobi CBD on Monday, February 13.

The 46-year-old had allegedly walked from her workplace in Upper Hill in the company of some colleagues at 5pm. As they walked through CBDwn however, she reportedly started complaining of chest pains and eventually collapsed.

Efforts to save her life bore no fruit as Waithera reportedly died before she could be rushed to hospital. First respondents arrived shortly after a call from colleagues with an ambulance but declared her dead at the site.

Nairobi County Police Commander Adamson Bungei said her body was transferred from Nairobi Hospital Mortuary to Kenyatta University Mortuary for an autopsy.

"The female NHIF staff who collapsed and died along Kaunda Street on Monday evening had been shot from an elevated angle. Autopsy revealed the bullet was lodged in her lungs," Bungei told Nation.

Waithera's shortness of breath was therefore as a result of the bullet in her lungs. 

"The bullet entered through the collar bone having been fired from an elevated angle," the Nairobi police commander added.

The bullet was handed over to police for ballistic investigations. DCI detectives have also taken up the matter and investigations are underway.