A social gathering in a high-rise Kilimani apartment ended in tragedy Sunday evening after a 25-year-old man fell to his death from the 14th-floor balcony. The deceased, identified as Festus Lee Oromo, was found on the roof of a parked car at Heartland Apartments along Kindaruma Road.

This incident is now the focal point of a murder investigation, pulling back the curtain on the often-unregulated world of short-term rentals in Nairobi's upscale neighbourhoods. It forces a difficult conversation about personal safety and accountability in a city where social lives increasingly unfold in rented spaces.

A Party That Ended in a Fall

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are now piecing together Oromo's final hours. He had checked into the Airbnb on Friday, November 28, with Lilian Moraa Mbeki, a 48-year-old woman with dual Kenyan and Costa Rican citizenship. The two had reportedly met earlier this year on the dating app Tinder.

Police reports indicate they were joined by a third individual, Patrick Jagongo, for a drinking spree that lasted into Sunday. Investigators allege that an argument erupted between Oromo and Mbeki, leading to a physical confrontation. It was during this scuffle that Oromo is believed to have been pushed or fallen from the balcony.

The scene within the apartment suggested a violent struggle, with the room found in disarray. Mbeki was reportedly found asleep and intoxicated in a bedroom by authorities who were alerted by guards after a loud thud was heard in the parking lot. Assorted drugs and used alcohol bottles were also recovered from the apartment, police noted.

The Investigation Unfolds

Both Lilian Moraa Mbeki and Patrick Jagongo have been arrested in connection with the death. A Kibera court has granted detectives 14 days to hold the suspects as they continue their investigation. A post-mortem examination confirmed that Oromo died from extensive trauma consistent with a high-impact fall, including multiple organ injuries and fractures.

Key elements of the investigation now include:

• Toxicology Reports: Samples have been collected to determine the role of alcohol or other substances.
• Witness Statements: Police are looking to interview other guests who, according to visitor logs, accessed the apartment over the weekend.
• Forensic Analysis: Evidence from the apartment is being analysed to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the fall.

Nairobi's BnB Safety Under Scrutiny

This death is the latest in a string of violent incidents at short-term rental properties in Nairobi, prompting renewed calls for tighter regulation. Just last weekend, a university student died after falling from the 12th floor of an apartment during a party. In response to rising safety concerns, the government has previously issued directives for BnB operators, including mandatory CCTV installation and the formal recording of all guests' identification details.

However, enforcement remains a significant challenge. The incident on Kindaruma Road highlights the persistent risks where private parties, alcohol, and disputes can escalate with deadly consequences behind closed doors. As investigators work to determine whether Festus Lee Oromo's death was an accident or a homicide, his case serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers lurking within the city's vibrant but volatile social scene.