The family of Beatrice Neema Kalume, a 22-year-old college student who jumped off the Kilifi Bridge on Thursday, August 11, 2023, is appealing to the public to help them retrieve her body from the Indian Ocean. Beatrice was a final year student at Shanzu Teachers College in Mombasa County.
According to her mother, Mary Mwadondo, Beatrice left their home in Malindi at around 4 am on Thursday morning without revealing where she was going. She only said she wanted to drink tap water within the compound. When she did not return, the family reported her as missing to the area chief.
Later that day, they received the shocking news that Beatrice had committed suicide by jumping into the ocean at the middle of the Kilifi Bridge. Her national identity card and phone were found at the Kilifi police station. The family confirmed the sad news and travelled to Kilifi to look for her body.
However, their search has been hampered by the lack of professional divers and sea rescue equipment. The Kilifi county government provided them with a boat and fuel, but said it did not have any divers to assist them. The family has been relying on local fishermen to help them with the search, but so far they have not been successful.
The family is now asking for help from well-wishers who can provide them with divers or any other resources that can help them retrieve their daughter’s body. They are also seeking answers as to why Beatrice took her own life and what drove her to such a desperate act.
Beatrice’s death has also raised concerns over the rising cases of people jumping off the Kilifi Bridge, which is one of the iconic landmarks in the county. According to Abdi Shalo of the Kilifi Boat Operators Association, many people have lost their lives due to lack of sea rescue equipment and timely response from the authorities. He urged the county government to address the issue and provide adequate security and support for such incidents.
by: _mochache