Four Sudanese nationals have been arrested in connection with the death of a 55-year-old domestic worker, Zeitun Kavayo, who allegedly fell from the fifth floor of an apartment building in Kilimani, Nairobi, on September 18, 2025. The suspects, consisting of a mother, two daughters, and a son, are currently in police custody, pending investigations into the tragic incident.
Zeitun, a resident of Kibera, had been employed as a house help by the family of the suspects. The confrontation that led to her death reportedly stemmed from an accusation that she had stolen Sh5,000 from a trouser pocket. According to police, Zeitun was allegedly called back to the apartment after leaving for the day to answer for the missing money. Following a heated argument, it is claimed that she either tried to escape or fell from the balcony.
However, Zeitun’s family has strongly rejected the notion of suicide or an accidental fall. Her daughter, Faith Kavayo, has demanded a thorough investigation, insisting that her mother was murdered. Faith recounted how she became worried when her mother didn’t return home at the usual time and was informed later that night by a man at the police station that her mother had been detained. She was not allowed to see her mother at the time.
A post-mortem conducted on Zeitun’s body revealed that she died from blunt force trauma consistent with a high-impact fall. The family believes that these findings support their claim that Zeitun did not fall by her own volition but was likely pushed or murdered.
According to defense attorneys representing the suspects, the confrontation over the missing money escalated when the son of the household could not find his cash in a pair of trousers that had been washed by Zeitun. The family reportedly tried to get her to return to the apartment, and when she denied taking the money, they threatened to report her to the police. The defense further suggests that in the midst of this dispute, Zeitun may have attempted to escape, resulting in her fatal fall.
Zeitun’s family, alongside local community members, has expressed frustration over the lack of clear information regarding her death. During protests calling for justice, Faith Kavayo remarked that when she went to collect her mother’s belongings, she found only a small amount of money, along with her personal items, but no other belongings that would have been expected had she been guilty of theft.
The police have pledged to conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Zeitun Kavayo’s death. The suspects remain in custody, with their next court appearance scheduled for October 1, 2025.
