Shock as missing Othaya woman found dead inside her water tank
For five days, residents of Kiruga village in Nyeri County had been searching for their missing community member everywhere except in the water tank they had been drinking from.
Fourty-seven-year-old Sarah Wairuri was found inside her 2,500-litre water tank beside her three-roomed house on the evening of Thursday, January 18.
Speaking to the Nation, the deceased’s cousin Beth Wambui on Monday said her relative was last seen on the morning of Saturday, January 13, at a nearby shopping centre.
“She had woken up at around 9am and gone to visit her twin sister and on her way back, she passed by a neighbour’s house and took breakfast before leaving for Wangechu shopping centre a few metres away,” said Wambui, adding that the deceased was suffering from a mental illness and had been on medication.
On the fateful day, Wambui says the deceased had broken her norm, since she would normally prepare breakfast for her at her home — about 100 metres away.
She said she would ensure that the patient took the meal together with her medicine.
At her home, the deceased, a single mother of eight, lived with her daughter and her grandchild.
The daughter, in her mid-20s, took care of her mother with the help of family members who live on their subdivided ancestral property.
“Her daughter would leave for Othaya town every day for work from 9am to 6pm and leave her under our care,” explained Wambui, adding that the deceased would at such times go visiting her friends or even attend ceremonies in the village where she would help with menial work.
The deceased did not have any source of income and was fully dependent on her family and the goodwill of fellow villagers.
However, at her home, neighbours trooped in to fetch water from her water tank built and given to her by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga in 2018, after her poverty status was brought to the attention of the county government.
In the initiative by the county government and an NGO, My Brother’s Keeper Foundation, the deceased received clean piped water, foodstuff and a three-roomed house.
“She received the support after her photos were circulated on social media showing her deplorable state of living- a muddy house, in which she inherited from her late mother,” said Wambui.
The county government also stepped in to support her by sponsoring her children through education.
At the home, the deceased lived on an eighth-acre property inherited from her mother after she separated from her first husband more than 20 years ago.
Her water tank would provide water to four neighbouring households and a nearby local church.
According to Wambui, the deceased’s generous nature saw her provide free water to neighbours who could not afford piped water and only depended on rainwater.
But even this did not make the line of villagers who trooped in to fetch water daily from her compound suspicious of its nature.
“It was only after five days that my 15-year-old daughter came complaining to me in the evening that the compound had a foul smell and the water fetched from the tank had a lot of foam,” she said.
On peeping into the water tank, the deceased’s clothes were seen floating. Ms Wairuri’s body was later retrieved from the tank swollen and having turned white.
Othaya Deputy sub-County Police Commander Safari Katana said a police report filed by the family shows that a stool was found beside the tank.
“The daughter reported that on the day she went missing, she found a stool beside the tank that evening and moved it away not knowing that her mother had fallen inside the tank,” said Mr Katana.
Currently, the family is questioning how the deceased died, noting that because of her body size and the small opening of the tank, she could not fall into the tank without being pushed.
“For her body to be retrieved, the police also had to cut the tank,” said a family member.
Before the incident, the family member also noted that the deceased’s only dairy goat, also donated to her by the governor, had been stolen from her home over the December festivities. The police are yet to make any arrests.
While condoling with the family through a Facebook post on Sunday, Mr Kahiga asked the police to thoroughly investigate the matter, noting that the circumstances surrounding the death raised serious questions.
Shows
See AllAM Live
AM Live is NTV's morning current affairs show that sets the agenda for the day with insightful panels every weekday.
Business Redefined
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
Comedies
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Documentaries
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Entertainment
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Full Episodes
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Gumzo La Sato
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
One Health Lens Podcast
Discussing health matters and human stories from Kenya and across Africa. We talk big picture from people to policy, ecosystems, and everything in between. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onehealthlens
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost peeks through the story of Louis Otieno, the times, and everything in between.
Primetime
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Speaking of GEN Z
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport On
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
Tech-over
The extent of technological growth is beyond mere acknowledgment; it has seamlessly integrated into our daily existence. A few years ago, the notion of paying electricity bills through mobile money or recharging with 'tokens' in Kenya seemed inconceivable. Online product sales were considered distant, and artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping various facets of our lives. Amidst these technological leaps, those with a solid understanding of tech can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build a sustainable livelihood. Tech over Show aims to be the platform facilitating discussions among thought leaders, innovators, tech companies, and the government, addressing challenges and opportunities in Kenya's thriving tech industry.
Thamani
Thamani is a business show which is dedicated to emerging issues regarding micro, small and medium size businesses.
The Politalk podcast
This is The Politalk podcast. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
The Trend
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The trend podcast
The trend podcast highlights and captures the best of banter from #TTTT segment that airs every Friday on NTV. It's the TTTT EXTRA
The Wicked Edition
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
Trending
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Twende
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
Unscripted
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP Access
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
WADR
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
When death do us part
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.