Kenya: Wanjiru Postmortem Set for Friday

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Irene Wairimu

26 May 2011

The mother of Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru has directed that a postmortem examination on her son’s body be conducted on May 27.

While refuting claims that she is trying to frustrate her daughter-in-law Teresia Njeri and further delay the burial, Anne Wanjiru said all parties have agreed to be represented by a pathologist of their choice during the postmortem at the Lee Funeral home.

Through her lawyers Gordon Ogolla and Wilfred Konosi, Wanjiru said she will make a major announcement on the next course of action after she has been presented with the postmortem results.

“Only after knowing her son’s exact cause of death can our client know the way forward,” Konosi said during a press briefing.

The lawyers reiterated that Wanjiru is still convinced that there was foul play leading to her son’s death, and felt that only an independent postmortem could get rid of the doubts.

The lawyers denied allegations that they dissuaded their client from resolving the matter in an amicable way by withdrawing a case she filed before the High Court in Nakuru.

Wanjiru moved to court last week and obtained a 14-day injunction stopping the burial of her son after he allegedly fell from the balcony of his Nyahururu home on May 16.

“We convinced her to attend the meeting with Ndegwa Wahome who is Njeri’s lawyer, where a lot was agreed upon,” they said.

However relatives have accused the athlete’s mother of backtracking on an argument and raised concern over the state of the athlete’s body at the Lee Funeral home.

Ogolla and Konosi disowned ongoing plans to hold a thanksgiving service at Nyahururu Stadium on Saturday in celebration of the athlete’s life saying that their client was not aware of them.

“Anne Wanjiru has received no invitation to any such service,” Ogolla said. Ndegwa who serves as the chairman of the funeral committee had earlier announced plans to hold the service for Wanjiru’s family, friends, colleagues and fans.

Wanjiru has accused Njeri of not involving her in the funeral plans. She told Judge Anyara Emukule that Njeri was holding meetings at her son’s home without her knowledge.

AllAfrica – All the Time