Prof Abel Mugenda-husband to Olive Mugenda may have committed suicide at Nyeri hotel

Public reportedly duped on Prof Mugenda's death as claims of suicide emerge

Charles Ouma

January 12, 2019 9:36 AM

It is very true (that he jumped) lakini imefichwa -staff at the Nyeri hotel

File image of former Kenyatta University VC Olive Mugenda and her husband Prof Abel Mugenda

Details have emerged suggesting that the public may have been duped on the real cause of Professor Abel Mugenda, with reports that the academician committed suicide by jumping out of the sixth floor of his hotel room in Nyeri.

An exclusive expose by the Saturday Standard revealed that staff at the hotel confirmed that the deceased (husband to Prof Olive Mugenda of the Judicial Service Commission) appeared troubled throughout his stay at the hotel and had earlier on attempted to slit his throat.

The Standard quoted staff at the prestigious hotel confirming that the prof had plunged to his death but the public had been deceived on the real cause of death.

“It is very true (that he jumped) lakini imefichwa (the incident has been concealed),” said a staff member,” A staff at the facility divulged.

Prof Mugenda had been living at the hotel since 02 Jan until his alleged death on 05 Jan when he reportedly jumped to his death at about 5 AM.

Prof Abel Gitau Mugenda Pulse Live Kenya

The paper further quoted document at the Nyeri Police Station, reporting that officers had received a report that a man who had booked into the hotel as Abel Mugenda had fallen from a ledge on the sixth floor and died on the spot in a case of suspected suicide.

Pressure to keep the death secret

On the fateful morning, the Professor is claimed to have left his room on the fourth floor and took a lift to the sixth floor from where he reportedly plunged to his death.

A witness who watched in shock attempted to yell as he took his final leap but it was too late.

Staff at the hotel who spoke in confidence divulged that there is pressure to keep the whole incident secret a due to the stigma that an accomplished scholar could choose to end his life.