The family of a man who plunged to his death from the Nyali Bridge in Mombasa on Tuesday morning has said he deserted them in 2016 and cut all links. Hassan Kirogu also fled from his wife for years only to return two months to his sudden death, according to family and friends. They added that he left his wife of eight years in Bamburi and went to live with unknown people. Kirogu's family further disowned a video clip depicting an enraged man wielding a machete demanding four-month pay inside an office after the police claimed he was the deceased.
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Mombasa police claim this was Kirogu in a rage moments before he jumped to his death, but his family said they do not recognise the man in the video. "We received news of his death yesterday and travelled from Mpeketoni," said Jane Wanjiku, Kirogu's mother, at the Coast General Hospital mortuary yesterday."We last saw him in 2016 in Lamu," said a man who said he was Kirogu's uncle. Susan Njeri, the sister to the deceased, said her brother called his mother three days ago sounding afraid and requested money to travel to Lamu. He claimed he was being trailed by unknown persons. He was sent the money.
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Police are investigating whether Kirogu killed himself or was pushed. Mombasa County Crime Investigations Officer Anthony Muriithi told The Standard that five people had recorded statements with investigators to ascertain what transpired. "We understand that he was a graffiti artist and we are investigating whether he was thrown into the ocean or he committed suicide," he said.
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