Shock and grief has engulfed Kabiro-ini  village in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County after a 29-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide after jumping into River Nyamindi while carrying her 5-year-old girl on her back.

Her uncle Stephen Maembe said Moreen Wangui Munene, aged 29 years old, jumped into  river Nyamindi with her 5 year old girl over an unknown reason.

Maembe said the incident was witnessed by a Kainamoi coffee factory watchman who raised an alarm, but it was too late to rescue her.

According to her grandfather Ngombo Kuruma, the deceased was washing clothes outside the house but she disappeared  with her child after realising everybody was inside the house.

Kuruma, a member of Seventh Day Adventist church said he was preparing himself to go to church when he learnt about his granddaughter’s predicament.

At the same time, Fridah Njoki said her granddaughter had visited her last week and did not show any signs of depression.

Njoki said the deceased was staying with her parents in Embu as her mother is a civil servant and her father is a contractor, adding that she did not know why she decided to end her life.

“She was a very good girl and her baby too,” said Njoki. 

Meanwhile, police have launched investigations into the alleged suicide of Wangui and her 5-year-old child in Kabironi village, Kirinyaga.

Gichugu sub-county Police Commander Johnson Wachira confirmed the incident, adding that police are still investigating the matter.

“The matter has been reported to us, and investigations are in progress,” Wachira said.

The police boss added that police officers together with area residents were at the scene of the incident as they attempted to retrieve the bodies from the river.