This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
On April 27, Tecra Muigai, a 31-year-old woman from Nairobi, was airlifted to Nairobi Hospital in critical condition after falling down a staircase at a house in Lamu Island. The incident occurred just a week after she had arrived in Lamu to visit her boyfriend, Omar Lali, of Shella town.
According to reports, Tecra had been experiencing a swelling in the brain, known as cerebral-edema, which can lead to brain damage if left untreated. Despite efforts to save her, Tecra died on Saturday, May 2, before undergoing the recommended brain surgery.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, with sources indicating that the couple may have been involved in a row. The boyfriend, Omar Lali, is currently being held by detectives in Lamu as investigations continue.
Witnesses reported that Tecra was found unresponsive at the bottom of the staircase, with blood oozing from her nose and mouth. Her mother, Tabitha Karanja, chartered a private chopper to airlift her to Nairobi Hospital, where she received treatment before passing away.
Friends of Tecra have come forward to share their memories of her, with one friend stating that Tecra's brother had tried to convince her to leave Omar alone, but she refused, saying she loved him.
