The family of 32-year-old Mercy Maina Wachinga is struggling to come to terms with her death after a handwritten letter she left behind revealed heartfelt messages to her loved ones and gratitude to her landlord before she allegedly took her own life.
Mercy’s body was discovered in a state of advanced decomposition inside her house at For Homes Apartments in Lavington, Nairobi, nearly a month after she is believed to have died.
Mercy Maina’s Body Found After a Month
The discovery came after residents raised concerns about a foul smell emanating from her apartment.
According to the apartment manager, Mercy was last seen in early August interacting with fellow residents.
Alarm bells began ringing on August 12 when complaints about a strange smell emerged.
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Efforts to reach her proved unsuccessful as she did not answer her door or respond to phone calls.
The manager later informed the property owner to determine whether Mercy had communicated her whereabouts.
When no information was forthcoming, the matter was eventually reported to Muthangari Police Station on September 3.
Police officers arrived at the premises, broke into the apartment, and found her body lying on her bed.
As authorities processed the scene, a handwritten letter believed to have been authored by Mercy surfaced.
In the letter, she thanked several family members and appealed for unity among relatives.
“The reason why I’m writing this is mostly to thank my people, my mom, and also my whole family. I want to say you are all amazing people. Thanks, Mum, for choosing to be a good mom to my sister, Princess. I wish it was that way when we were kids. To my grandmother and grandfather, thanks for taking care of us. I know things were hard all the time, but you really did good,” part of the letter stated.
She also emphasized the need for people to avoid judging others and instead show more love and compassion.
Message to Landlord and Final Instructions
One of the most striking parts of the letter was her message to her landlord.
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Mercy thanked him for his patience during difficult moments, especially when she couldn’t pay rent on time.
She also asked for her belongings to be handed over to her mother.
Mercy also spoke about her wish to build a house for her mother, a dream that ultimately remained unfulfilled after her death.
“I would like you guys, I mean the whole family, to stop with the hate and distance from one another and help each other. It is all in vanity anyway,” the letter by Mercy Maina further stated.
The letter reportedly included directions on how she wished to be laid to rest. She requested not to be buried traditionally but for her body to be thrown into a river or cremated.
However, her family says discussions are ongoing regarding the most appropriate send-off for their daughter.
Her mother, Grace Nderitu, described Mercy as a lively person who enjoyed interacting with people and said the family remains shocked by the tragedy.
According to her, the two spoke at the beginning of August, and nothing in that conversation suggested Mercy was facing any major challenges.
“She was polite, talkative, had good intentions about her family and friends, and she sincerely loved her mother and sister,” Mercy’s mother said in a phone call interview.
Residents who knew Mercy also recalled her kindness. Some remembered seeing her distributing gifts to children shortly before she disappeared from public view.
Others spoke of the warm relationship she maintained with neighbours within the apartment complex.
She also left her cat, Woods, in their care, hoping it would receive a warm welcome after her departure.
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