Kenya: Postmortem Could End Burial Dispute

John Ngirachu and James Kariuki

23 May 2011

Nairobi — A postmortem on marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru could hold clues on the cause of his death at his home a week ago.

Officers investigating the matter suggested the much-awaited post-mortem would establish the cause of death and show whether there was foul play or if it was an accident.

Attempts to get conclusive evidence from the closed-circuit television system installed failed as a crucial camera facing the balcony was found to have been dysfunctional since December last year.

But the date of the postmortem initially scheduled for Monday remained in doubt as Wanjiru’s mother insisted there would be no progress until investigations into his death are completed.

“We are waiting for investigations to be completed and anything else can only move after that,” Ms Hannah Wanjiru said on phone.

The matter, she said, was now in the hands of her lawyers, who successfully stopped funeral arrangements through a court order issued by Justice Anyara Emukule in Nakuru last Thursday.

Ms Teresia Njeri’s lawyer Ndegwa Wahome expressed frustration at the mother’s apparent change of mind despite the funeral committee giving in to all her demands.

“She demanded an investigation into the death and we agreed. The issue of not being involved in the plans is far-fetched since her other son and Wanjiru’s five uncles were present at the first and only meeting last Wednesday,” Mr Wahome said.

The committee had also agreed to have the mother pick a doctor to be present at the athlete’s postmortem.

Mr Wahome said Ms Njeri and Ms Wanjiru agreed at a meeting on Saturday that the mother would give a date for the burial and postmortem.

In turn, Ms Wanjiru was to withdraw the court case barring the committee from making burial plans.

Mr Wahome said Ms Wanjiru’s lawyers, who were to give a final position by 8pm Monday night, appeared to have backtracked.

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