Fear has taken hold of Migadini estate in Changamwe, Mombasa, after four residents died in mysterious circumstances between July 9 and July 15.
County health officers have cordoned off parts of the neighbourhood while pathologists work to pin down what, if anything, links the deaths. Officials insist they are treating the matter as “sudden deaths” until laboratory results arrive.
Bodies, neighbours say, appeared swollen and covered in pus-filled sores.
“Ule mwili vile ulivyo unafura fura kama majipu vile alafu uko na white white vile,” said resident Michael Nyamai.
Another neighbour, Maulid Hassan, echoed the concern: “Mtu anafura hivi anakuwa kama ndovu, anakuwa na malengelenge, anatoa harufu mbaya. Hatuelewi ni ugonjwa gani.”
Some locals suspect a toxic leak from nearby factories; others whisper about mpox.
The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, however, has urged calm. In a statement on July 15, the Ministry of Health said all four victims had pre-existing chronic conditions and that “there is no indication of a disease outbreak.” Investigators have moved the bodies to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital for post-mortems.
County officials are advising residents to:
- report any missing or sick relatives immediately,
- avoid handling human remains,
- practice strict hygiene, and
- seek medical care at the first sign of illness.
For now, Migadini’s narrow lanes remain tense as families wait for answers, and hope the next knock on the door isn’t bad news.
