Detectives have launched investigations to unravel the mystery surrounding the assassination of staff at the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) on Monday this week.
The 46-year-old Mary Lilian Waithera collapsed and died along Kaunda Street in the Central Business District (CBD) as she was walking with her colleagues at around 5 pm.
An autopsy report would later reveal that she was shot dead.
Whether it was a case of coincidence or she was a target for assassination is the puzzle that the detectives are seeking to unravel.
The family of Waithera which is yet to come to terms with her death says she was in her usual mood and never expressed fear for her life.
It is at a spot along Kaunda Street within the Central Business District where Waithera suddenly collapsed and died as she was walking with her colleagues on Monday evening from her place of work in Upperhill, Nairobi.
Witnesses say Waithera held her chest before collapsing in what they initially thought was a case of a heart attack.
“Hii kitu ilihappen around 5:15pm. Huyo mama alikua na wenzake wanaenda nyumbani then akashtuka na akajishika kifua akiwa ameangalia juu. Mimi nilifikiria ameshikwa na heart attack, sikujua nini ilihappen,” Samuel Shikoli a witness said.
Her colleagues and good Samaritans called for an ambulance but she was pronounced dead before getting to the Nairobi Hospital.
The autopsy report came as a shocker as it revealed that Waithera was shot from an elevated angle. The bullet went into the body through the collarbone before stopping in the lungs.
“Jioni yake polisi walikuja tunaanza kuskia ilikuwa risasi,” Shikoli added.
“Huyu mama ametoka kazi jioni akitembea anaenda nyumbani alafu kitu tu inakuja na inampiga na anaanguka chini na hapo tu anakufa,” Stephen Mwangi another witness accounted.
Detectives who have been collecting witness statements at the scene will be seeking to unravel whether it was a case of coincidence or she was a target of assassination. The bullet head is in the hands of ballistic experts for analysis.
Lilian Waithera’s family which has been thrown into mourning say on that particular day, she left for work as usual and did not appear to be worried nor spoke of threats to her life.
“Hili ni jambo ambalo imetupata kwa mshtuko mkubwa kwa sababu Waithera hakuwa na shida na mtu yeyote….hakuna sababu yeyote ile ambayo unaweza weka useme kuna mtu alikuwa anamfuata,” widower Paul Mbogo stated.
Francisca Mary, a friend of the deceased added: ”I wouldn’t seemingly know any known enemies of Mary. It was actually a shocker that someone actually shot at her.”
“Anybody who knows Mary anajua for heaven’s sake, ni mtu alikuwa anapenda kusaidia,” Idah Njeri, Waithera’s sister noted.
Lilian Waithera had been working at the NHIF’s registry department for over 15 years.
For now, the family is preparing to lay Waithera to rest in Embu even as it calls for answers surrounding her death.
