A woman who died on Monday while being treated at a Machakos hospital for poisoning had fled her homestead three days before.
Elizabeth Mumbua, 60, died shortly after being admitted to Kangundo Sub-County Hospital.
The treasurer of a local table banking group had come under intense pressure to hand over Sh300,000 that members of the group had raised throughout the year.
The problem began last Tuesday when the group reconciled its books. The peasant farmer is suspected of stealing the funds.
According to the deceased’s husband, Joseph Muya, the group demanded Sh300,000 from his wife before hell broke loose.
“After the group reconciled its books on Tuesday she had promised to avail the money on Wednesday. However, she fled on Wednesday morning without indicating her destination. We remained in the dark. We assumed she had gone to borrow money,” Mr. Muya said.
“Three days later, on Sunday morning, we were shocked to find her handbag next to the cowshed. Her footprints led us to an abandoned house at the corner of the homestead where she lay unconscious. We also recovered two bottles of acaricide. We raised an alarm and rushed her for medication,” Mr. Muya said.
According to Matetani Chief Mary Njeri, the mother of two fled home three days before taking poison.
“She was fighting for her life in hospital after taking poison. But we have since lost her,” Kangundo Sub-county Police Commander Zacharia Bitok said.
The body was moved to Kangundo Sub-County Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
