A 44-year-old house helper died after using a charcoal jiko in her poorly ventilated room. Irene Wamalwa failed to appear for work Thursday morning, causing her employers to check on her. They knocked at her door with no answer, forcing them to break in. They discovered her body lying on the bed next to a burned-out jiko inside her locked quarters.
The victim worked for an insurance company CEO at their Kileleshwa home. Police found all windows closed tightly, leaving no air circulation in the room. They suspect she either wanted to keep warm during the night or possibly committed suicide. Her body was taken to the morgue as investigators determined if carbon monoxide had killed her.
Health experts warn against using jikos indoors because they produce invisible, odorless gases. These deadly emissions mix with blood, creating poisonous compounds that block oxygen flow throughout the body. Warning signs include headaches, breathing problems, stomach pain, vomiting, chest pain, nasal issues, red eyes, plus confusion. The World Health Organization calls carbon monoxide "the silent killer" because victims often die without realizing they're being poisoned.
The victim worked for an insurance company CEO at their Kileleshwa home. Police found all windows closed tightly, leaving no air circulation in the room. They suspect she either wanted to keep warm during the night or possibly committed suicide. Her body was taken to the morgue as investigators determined if carbon monoxide had killed her.
Health experts warn against using jikos indoors because they produce invisible, odorless gases. These deadly emissions mix with blood, creating poisonous compounds that block oxygen flow throughout the body. Warning signs include headaches, breathing problems, stomach pain, vomiting, chest pain, nasal issues, red eyes, plus confusion. The World Health Organization calls carbon monoxide "the silent killer" because victims often die without realizing they're being poisoned.
