Autopsy: Kariobangi North MCA Munuve died due to blood clot in lung artery

Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve died from a pulmonary embolism, a sudden blockage in the lungs caused by a blood clot, a team of pathologists has confirmed.

The announcement was made on Friday following a postmortem conducted at Lee Funeral Home.

The autopsy was led by Government Chief Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor and involved a team of seven pathologists, including private experts and representatives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), AAR Hospital, Nairobi County Assembly, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino’s office, and the deceased’s family.

Dr Oduor said Munuve lacked oxygen at the time of his death.

"When we looked at the body of the late MCA, from external examination, we saw that he had cyanosis (darkening of lips and fingernails). This is seen in people who are not getting enough oxygen in the body," Oduor told journalists.

He added that upon opening the body, the team found a large blood clot in the pulmonary artery.

"There is a blood vessel called pulmonary artery where blood passes from the heart to the lungs to get oxygen. We saw a big blood clot there, which was tightly adherent to the blood vessel. This is what is called pulmonary embolism, which can cause sudden death," he said.

The team went further to trace the source of the clot.

"We tried to find where the blood clot was coming from and upon looking at the whole body, a blood vessel in the lower limb, also on the left, in the vein called popliteal vein, we saw a blood clot there," Oduor stated.

According to the chief pathologist, the clot in the leg had dislodged and travelled to the lungs, causing the MCA’s death.

"It is very clear the blood clot came from this vein, which progressively went to the area in the lung," he added.

Family pathologist Peter Maturi explained that clots of this kind are unusual in men and may result from sitting for extended periods.

"The clot in the popliteal vein, which is rare in men, is caused by sitting for a long time and a sedentary lifestyle, or even a long airplane journey," he said.

Samples were collected for further analysis and submitted to the government chemist.

Family lawyer Danstan Omari said the samples included stomach fluids, organ fats, and viral swabs.

"The doctors representing the government have one bunch of samples, the doctors representing the family the document of what they are going to analyze," he said.

Omari suggested the tragedy could have been avoided if Munuve had received proper care.

"The deceased would not have died if he had been given the right diagnosis and treatment before he met his death. He had consulted medical practitioners before. Once we get the final report, the family will decide how to deal with it," he said.

He added that the current findings matched the expectations of the deceased’s family.

"The results that have been announced by the doctors are the results that the family has," he noted.

Lawyer Shadrack Wambui, also representing the family, appealed to residents of Kariobangi North to remain calm.

"We hope that the Kariobangi North residents will be peaceful and maintain tranquility within the ward so that we do not end up reacting to a situation, yet the doctors are still in the process of discovering what led to the death of their leader," he said.

MCA Munuve was rushed to AAR Hospital on Kiambu Road after complaining of chest pain, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

His sudden passing led to widespread concern, prompting the presence of multiple parties at the postmortem to observe and verify the process.

In total, five pathologists carried out the autopsy. They were supported by 15 officers from the DCI’s Homicide Unit and Forensic Crime Scene department.

Lawyer Duncan Okach, who represented the Nairobi County Assembly, said the postmortem brought clarity and agreement among all involved.

"We owe our duty not only to the departed soul but also his immediate family to ensure that we responsibly deal with such issues. There are other procedural aspects, which is normal. But one thing that the family is about is closure. And we have an established," he said.

Leaders who were close to Munuve also participated in the postmortem process. Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai and Kahawa MCA Eutychus Muriuki attended on behalf of their colleagues and said the findings helped them find peace.

Alai said the results had reassured those who had raised questions following Munuve’s death.

"It is a lesson to all of us because we cannot bring him back to life. I hope that the results now bring peace to all of us, especially the political family, where there has been a bit of turmoil on who killed him or what killed him. I trust the word of doctors and the process. Our friend had something that was hurting him, and he did not know," he said.

Muriuki added that they were glad to find closure and would continue praying for the late MCA’s family.

"We were looking for closure so that our brother could rest in peace. We pray for the family," he said.

The late MCA has been remembered by colleagues and friends as a leader who upheld integrity, stood for good governance, and served his community with dedication.

While the immediate cause of death has been established, the final report from the government chemist is still awaited to complete the investigations