Detectives in Nairobi have opened a probe into the mysterious death of a businessman who was found dead at his home in Karen, Nairobi on Monday.
50-year-old Francis Kiambi Kiriro was found dead in the morning with vomit on his bedside.
Police said his wife Mary Waigwe Muthoni reported the incident after she called a doctor who confirmed that he was dead.
Mrs Waigwe told police that they had returned home together at around 9:00 pm after a meeting with a family lawyer and a relative at Big Smoke Bar and Restaurant at the Karen shopping centre.
They reportedly had a disagreement after the wife declined to be his guarantor in securing a Sh.2 billion loan he was seeking to start a business.
Police said Mr Kimabi and Mrs Waigwe slept in separate rooms after the disagreement before the businessman-cum-politician was found dead.
“They each spent the night in different rooms and the deceased never woke up since then, but could be heard snoring throughout the day and night and had vomited in his bedroom. It was until today at around 0600hrs when she went to check on the deceased and she found him lying dead on his bed with some vomits beside the bed,” a police report reads in part.
“They called a doctor from the Karen hospital who confirmed the death at around 0902 hrs.”
Detectives who reported to the scene said the man’s body had no visible injuries. They moved his remains to Lee Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem as investigations contine.
Francis Kiambi Kiriro had previously vied for the Tharaka Nithi County senator seat but was unsuccessful.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki was among the first leaders to mourn the business mogul.
He eulogized Kiambi Kiriro as “an iconic entrepreneur who not only built an impeccable business empire but also helped inspire a generation of business people from the region and nation.”
“I have learnt with deep sorrow and profound sadness of the untimely death of My friend, our son Francis Kiambi Kiriiro Matanka… We will forever remember Matanka as an astute business leader whose acumen saw him establish one of the largest manufacturing industries in Kenya, employing hundreds of people directly and impacting thousands of lives,” said Kindiki in a statement issued on Monday.
“We are poorer as a people without this brave and selfless leader. Matanka’s leadership, towering personality and generosity will be missed by many, particularly Tharaka community among whom he had made life-changing and impactful investments.”
