Greek Diplomat's wife plunges to death in Mombasa

MOMBASA: The wife of a Greek diplomat has died after falling from a high-rise in Mombasa’s Nyali area.

Some reports indicated that she committed suicide by jumping from fifth floor of the building, while police claim investigations had been launched into the sudden death that was reported at around 11am on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Frances Lagousis. Born Frances Cook, the ardent golfer changed her name when she got married.

She is a Kenyan of British descent. Records from the Nyali Golf Club in Mombasa, where she has been a member, indicate she was born in Malindi and studied at Limuru Girls High School.

According to people who sought anonymity, the deceased was having a verbal exchange with an unknown person inside a house and minutes later she was seen falling down the building and died on hitting the ground.

“We only heard that she was arguing with an unknown person and minutes later she fell to the ground. We do not know if she committed suicide or whether someone pushed her,” said the source.

Thursday, Kisauni OCPD Fredrick Ngatia confirmed the incident but declined to disclose the circumstances that led to the death.

“I want to confirm there was a death incident in Nyali in a case which involves a foreign government staff. I would not wish to comment any further because it is a case that involves different governments,” said Mr Ngatia.

Nyali Golf Club Chairman Dinesh Sasan sent his condolences, saying they would miss her.

Elsewhere, a 20-year-old man jumped to his death in Eldoret as he allegedly tried to flee from police.

The man jumped from the fourth floor of Veecam Building while escaping from the police on Wednesday evening.

Manager of Veecam Gym Peter Kemboi, said the man used to frequent the gym and had reported at 6pm for his daily routine.

Mr Kemboi said police stormed the building and asked for his client and he informed them that he was exercising. He added that the police were willing to wait for the client to finish his workout.

Kemboi said the man jumped through the window in a bid to escape after he realised that police officers had laid a siege.

The Deputy Officer Commanding Police Division Eldoret West Samson Rukunga confirmed the incident.

Mr Rukunga said the deceased was rushed to MTRH where he succumbed to injuries on arrival due to excessive bleeding.

However, Rukunga did not explain whether the deceased had committed any crime, arguing that the officers were on patrol. “I cannot reveal the deceased’s offence but the police are carrying out investigations regarding the incident,” he said.

The family of the deceased has not turned up to identify the body.

— Additional reporting by Cynthia Ronoh and Duncan Keter