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No clues yet on student found dead in Varsity’s pool


Mystery surrounds the death of a University of Nairobi student whose body was found in the institution’s swimming pool on Sunday afternoon.

Police are probing three possible causes of the death including suicide, drowning or that he may have been killed elsewhere and his body dumped at the pool as cover-up.

The body of fourth year Economics student Dennis Maina was found on the floor of the deep-end of the swimming pool on Sunday afternoon with clothes and shoes still on.

“The body is at the Chiromo mortuary and we expect a post mortem to be carried out. From there we will know whether the student was murdered, committed suicide or he drowned,” Kilimani OCPD Peter Katam confirmed.

The deceased was said to have gone out with friends who are non-students on Saturday night and was never seen again.

By Monday morning, his room in Hall 11 was still locked and his roommate had not been located.

A view of the University of Nairobi swimming pool. PHOTO | EVELYNE MUSAMBI
The University of Nairobi swimming pool. PHOTO | EVELYNE MUSAMBI

Students are only allowed to swim in the afternoons. The pool is closed during the morning hours.

Students who found the body said the deceased was not swollen and his face looked calm.

Possibility of drowning

“The fact that the student was fully dressed and it was outside the swimming hours rules out the possibility of him having drowned while swimming,” said Student union Chairman Zack Kinuthia.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer Charles Sikulu told Nairobi News  that police are still investigating the matter and that the next of kin have not been informed of the death.

Rising insecurity

Students lamented at the rising insecurity in the institution, citing a case that last week in which two students were also attacked.

A spot check by Nairobi News revealed workers repairing streetlights at the tunnel that connects the accommodation to the tuition area.

“We need the security department to explain how the student’s body got to the pool and assure us of security especially now that it is towards SONU elections,” said Dan, a student at the university.

The incident came just a few days after a student at the St Georges High School in Kilimani drowned at the school’s swimming pool.

The form three student, Yvonne Narocho was in the company of 10 others when the incident happened.

She was buried in Busia on Saturday.