Kenyan mother and daughter found dead in a van in Finland

Mystery surrounds the sudden death of a Kenyan mother and her daughter in Tahko, Finland.

The bodies of Catherine Anyango and her daughter Michelle were found inside their van at the main parking lot of the resort town on Thursday, February 9.

They had been reported missing for about five days, reports Finnish newspaper iltaleht, prompting a police search.

Tahkovuori (or simply Tahko) is a resort town 450 kilometres from the country’s capital Helsinki.

“The matter is being investigated as a cause of death investigation, meaning that no crime is suspected,” reports iltaleht.

The duo owned a food cart company and specialized in ‘ethnic’ food including Samosas.
It is suspected that they died of carbon monoxide poisoning after retiring to their van in the below freezing Tahko temperatures.

They moved from town to town, selling the unique cuisine. Data shows there are about 50,000 Africans living in Finland. 

Following the tragic deaths, the family is calling on well-wishers to assist in repatriating the bodies home for burial. [The Mpesa paybill number is 40019796, Account: Christine Aluoch]. 

“This is sad. Sad sad," mourns Winnie Elizabeth. "Winter takes away lives when everyone trying to get warm forgetting about fresh air circulation and Monoxide poisoning." 

“Sad indeed...must have been extremely challenging what they were going through," adds Mwangi Gichingiri. "May they rest easy. Personal experience...Life in Finland was tough...if you survive that country, with a family, then you can survive anywhere!”