A woman employed as domestic staff was discovered deceased in her living quarters in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, in what law enforcement believes may be a case of carbon monoxide inhalation.

The deceased, identified as 44-year-old Irene Wamalwa, was working for the chief executive officer of a top insurance company.

On Thursday morning, concern arose when she failed to begin her daily duties, prompting her employers to investigate.

After several unanswered knocks on her door which had been locked from within they forced entry and found her unresponsive, lying on her bed.

Inside the room, officers noted the presence of a used charcoal stove situated near the bed.

Preliminary investigations suggest the stove had been used overnight, likely to keep warm.

The room, which lacked air circulation, had all windows shut, raising fears of toxic fume buildup.

The police transported the body to the morgue, where a postmortem is expected to confirm the exact cause of death.

While suicide has not been ruled out, authorities suspect accidental poisoning due to poor ventilation.

Authorities warn against using jikos in areas with limited ventilation.

The silent killer

Carbon monoxide poisoning which is commonly known as “the silent killer”

Occurs when invisible,scentless fumes from burning charcoal or wood enter the bloodstream and disrupt the body’s ability to circulate oxygen.

Meanwhile,authorities are looking into a similar incident in Kiambaa,Kiambu County,where a 32 year Moverick Otekin Nyakambi passed away after breathing carbon monoxide.

Moverick had sent text message to his caretaker of residential houses where he stayed saying

“There was no need for postmortem”but the caretaker didn’t take him seriously.

Later the next day when he called ,Moverick’s phone was off and couldn’t go through,in desparation he went to check out for him only to find his lifeless body.