A body of an unidentified man was on Thursday morning found dead next to Outering road near Pipeline estate.
Old sacks and pieces of clothes strewn on the ground seemed to summarise his life as one of struggle and poverty.
According to the residents, the man had been spending the nights in the said ditch – and hardly spoke to anyone.
“I used to see him walking around the estate with a sack, in the evening you would find him sleeping out there in the open,” said Robert Maina, a resident of Pipeline.
“I guess he was homeless. It is not possible to say what may have killed him, but one cannot rule out hunger because these are tough times for everyone,” said Maina.
Police from Imara Daima and Pipeline stations were called to the scene around 9am on Thursday to collect the body.
Residents said that the area is common with the homeless people and street children – with the well-covered underbelly of the modern Outering road serving as a suitable cover from sun and rain.
“Many cook and sleep in these trenches. This is their home,” said Maina.
According to residents, there have been reports of bodies of people being found dead in the larger area – with many blaming it on the high cost of living and tough economic times facing the homeless.
“People no longer offer help to these people when they go out begging on the streets.
“Many look at them suspiciously and often dismiss them whenever they stretch their hands to beg,” said Lorna Nzioka.
According to the residents who had milled at the scene – it’s possible the homeless man may have died due to hunger.
“We always saw him lying there alone, doing his own things until today when we found him lying dead on his beddings,” said Maina.
The police took away the body.
