The family of Hanington Oburu, a civil engineer who died after falling from the second floor of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices at Lake Basin Mall in Kisumu, has shared what happened before his death.
Speaking on Friday, October 31, 2025, his brother George Guya said Hanington’s wife noticed strange behavior that morning before he left for KRA.
“Yesterday morning, he left very early to go to KRA, and as he was leaving, I think his wife realized he hadn’t even taken breakfast, so she called me. I told her, ‘Okay, that’s normal,” said Guya.
Guya said Hanington Oburu told his wife there was no cause for alarm. He was only going to work on his personal tax returns, something normal for him.
“He was working on his personal returns, so I think going to KRA is normal. There was no problem, but we still informed the driver to follow him and accompany him there,” said Guya.
By the time the driver reached the Lake Basin Mall, about an hour later, it was too late. People had already gathered around the building.
Guya believes his brother went to the second-floor office to see a certain officer. He suspects Hanington Oburu was waiting in the corridor and may have fallen accidentally due to lack of sleep.
“From what I understand, the engineer (Oburu) went to the office on the second floor to see the officer. I think he found the officer with someone else, so he was standing in the corridor waiting. Because he had been lacking sleep recently, I suspect that he dozed off while standing near the railing and may have toppled over. I think that is the reason for his death,” said Hanington’s brother.
He said Hanington’s sleep problems started due to frustrations with delayed payments faced by contractors.
Guya’s statement comes amid claims that his brother died after jumping from the second floor over a tax dispute with KRA.
The KRA issued a statement expressing condolences to the family and said they are cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation. Police are also conducting their own inquiry into the incident.
By Vivian K.