DCI takes over probe into death of Kariobangi North MCA

Investigations into the death of Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve have been formally taken over by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), following his sudden collapse and death outside a Kiambu Road hospital on Tuesday.

Lawyer Danstan Omari, who spoke on behalf of the family outside the Lee Funeral Home, said a meeting had taken place between Munuve’s relatives, political colleagues, the government pathologist, and detectives from the Nairobi-based Homicide Unit.

During this meeting, they reached an agreement to postpone the autopsy to the following day.

"After a meeting between the family, the Homicide Unit of the DCI, and the late MCA’s political family, we agreed to have the autopsy postponed from today and be done tomorrow. Munuve was a public figure, and he was owned by many people. It is a public interest matter, and that’s why we agreed to follow the due process," Omari stated.

Omari emphasized that the delay was not caused by any objection from the family.

Instead, it was a joint decision to allow investigators time to carry out a forensic reconstruction and collect the necessary evidence for a thorough inquiry.

Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, who was close to the late Munuve, said that members of the Nairobi County Assembly are united in their expectation for the autopsy to be done transparently.

He said it was important for the truth to come out so that no confusion or tension arises within the community.

"The Assembly will be interested in the outcome of the autopsy, and we have agreed that it will be done transparently to ensure there is no doubt. We do not want death to cause disharmony in society," he said.

As the investigation begins, the family has urged members of the public and the political class to remain calm and not to spread speculation about what caused Munuve’s death.

They have insisted that only the scientific findings of the pathologist will provide the true answer.

"We need complete silence on the cause of death speculations until the pathologist gives the scientific cause of his death. Let us not point fingers at anyone that there was any foul," Omari pleaded on behalf of the family.

"For now, what we have confirmed is that the Honorable Member passed away, and he is now at Lee Funeral Home. The postmortem shall be public, and we will all be informed."

Munuve was confirmed dead on Tuesday morning after being rushed to AAR Hospital along Kiambu Road, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 10:30 am.

Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ngondi said the news of Munuve’s passing came as a complete shock, explaining that no health problems had been reported before the incident.