Kirinyaga: Woman Who Drowned With Baby Had Just Been Given Land By Her Father, Planted Trees

• On Saturday, May 4, Maureen Wangui shocked her family after she fell into a river with her 5-year-old child
• Wangui's family has opened up, stating that she appeared disturbed days before the tragic incident
• Despite the troubles, Wangui was supported by her family to deal with issues, including the lack of formal employment

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kirinyaga - New details have emerged regarding the last moments of the 29-year-old woman who drowned in a river in Kirinyaga county.

On Saturday, May 4, Maureen Wangui fell into River Nyamindi with her 5-year-old child strapped on her back.

Speaking to Nation, Wangui's family disclosed that she looked disturbed days before the unfortunate incident.

What caused depression for Maureen Wangui

Her mother, Irene Micere, revealed that Wangui's depression started after she was allegedly jilted by her lover and her baby fell sick.

She stated that her daughter also constantly complained about the lack of formal employment.

However, Micere said the family did its best to help their daughter deal with the issues affecting her mental health.

"She was brought up very well, lacking nothing, but she had her problems which made her life miserable. We tried all we could to help her overcome them, but finally, she took a direction that left us badly shaken," Micere said.

Why was Maureen Wangui given land?

Weeks before the tragic event, Wangui had asked her father for a share of his coffee farm to support her child and become independent.

On Tuesday, April 30, Wangui and her father visited her elderly grandparents at Kabiroini in Gichugu.

On arrival at Kabiroini, Wangui's father showed her a portion of the coffee farm, and she planted trees on her boundary.

Later, the father returned to Embu, leaving his daughter with the grandparents.

A few days later, she disappeared from the compound only for details to emerge that she drowned in the river.

Has Maureen Wangui's body been found?

As reported earlier, the body of the 29-year-old woman was found after days of search.

Her uncle, Stephen Kinyua, said the body was recovered 10 kilometres downstream by residents who were harvesting sand.

Kinyua said the residents who had heard the news on the media called them to the scene to identify the body of Wangui.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke