Mystery as Chinese man, Vietnamese woman found dead in Kilimani apartment, Nairobi

Homicide detectives are investigating the mysterious deaths of two foreign nationals found with suspected gunshot wounds to the head inside an apartment along Chania Avenue in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, with investigators yet to establish whether the incident was a murder-suicide, a joint suicide pact or a double murder.

The deceased were identified as Nguyen Hong Ngoc, a Vietnamese woman, and Xu Zhiyu, a Chinese man, who reportedly lived together in the apartment where their bodies were discovered on Tuesday morning.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear, with detectives pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to reconstruct the events leading to the fatal shooting and establish who fired the gun.

A handwritten note suspected to be a suicide note was among the items recovered at the scene, adding a new dimension to the investigation.

Its contents and authenticity are expected to be examined as detectives seek to determine whether it provides any clues about the deaths or the relationship between the two victims.

Preliminary findings have also raised the possibility that one of the deceased shot the other before turning the firearm on themselves.

However, investigators have yet to establish the sequence of events or rule out the possibility that another person was involved.

The absence of a definitive explanation has placed the recovered firearm, the suspected suicide note and the forensic evidence at the centre of the probe.

According to police, the incident came to light after an apartment manager reported hearing gunshots from house A506 at around 10am.

The apartment was reportedly locked from the inside, preventing immediate access and prompting the management to seek police assistance.

The management eventually opened the house using a spare key, allowing officers to enter and inspect the premises.

Inside, the officers found the two bodies seated side by side on a mattress in the sitting room, each with suspected gunshot wounds to the head.

The scene presented detectives with several questions, including how the shooting unfolded, whether either victim had an opportunity to seek help and whether the position in which the bodies were found could help establish the circumstances of their deaths.

A BUL 9mm pistol, a magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition, two spent 9mm cartridges and the handwritten note were recovered from the apartment.

The investigators are expected to establish ownership of the firearm, determine whether it was legally held and subject it to forensic examination to establish whether it was used in the shooting.

Crime Scene Investigation officers from the Nairobi Region processed the apartment and collected evidence before the bodies were transferred to Chiromo Funeral Parlour, where they await postmortem examinations.

The autopsies are expected to help establish the cause of death and provide further forensic information to support the investigation.

Detectives are also examining the possible motive behind the incident, although police have not disclosed what the two foreign nationals did for a living or whether there had been any known disputes or other circumstances that could explain the deaths.

The incident comes amid wider public health concerns over suicide, with factors such as financial distress, unemployment, relationship difficulties, academic pressure, bereavement, substance misuse and mental health conditions recognised as potential contributors.

The World Health Organization identifies suicide as a complex public health issue influenced by multiple interacting factors, while emphasising the importance of prevention, early intervention and access to appropriate support.

However, investigators have not established that suicide was the cause of either death in the Kilimani case.

Detectives are relying on forensic analysis and postmortem findings to establish the sequence of events and determine the circumstances that led to the deaths.