4 Areas Detectives Seek To Establish After Jeff Mwathi's Autopsy, Exhuming

Detectives from the homicide department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as well as government pathologists on Friday, March 31 exhumed Jeff Mwathi's body in Njoro, Nakuru County.

They collected samples for toxicological analysis with Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, who conducted a second autopsy, revealing that the samples were taken to establish if Mwathi was sodomized or not.

In addition, samples were taken through swabs from the anal region for DNA tests and another group of samples were taken for analysis to determine if there was a possibility that Mwathi was poisoned before his death.

“Remember there were allegations of sodomy; we have taken in some samples which will help us to find out the truth which led to the death of Jeff," he said.

DCI detectives exhume Jeff Mwathi's body on March 31, 2023. /FACEBOOK

“We have taken some swabs from the anal region which will undergo DNA. We have taken samples for toxicological analysis to know whether some toxins were involved or drugs so now we will analyse and come up with results.”

Detectives also took measurements of Mwathi's chest width to ascertain whether he jumped off the apartment through the window as had been alleged during preliminary investigations, despite being ruled out in subsequent investigations.

Oduor further revealed that the second autopsy conducted on Friday did not disclose any inconsistencies with the first, adding that Mwathi indeed died as a result of severe injuries to the head.

“We exhumed as per the court order, after that we did a full autopsy, a repeat of what had been done earlier on. What we saw is that the late had severe head injuries, which were also seen in the first autopsy, and there was some fracture of the upper and lower limbs and there were also some fractures in the neck, cervical spine,” he said.

“This is a person who died because of very very severe injuries which we need to look into.”

Mwathi's remains were reburied moments after the second autopsy as investigations continue to unravel the cause of death. Oduor however requested more time stating that it is difficult to establish the exact cause of death without proper analysis since the body had already decomposed.

“There are usually what we call post-mortem artefacts, which are changes which come as the body stays on; so it is very difficult for me to say whether what they saw exactly is what I see right now because there is decomposition,” he stated.

"For the fractures which they saw, I also saw them…the skull was seriously fractured up to its base."

Although not common, there are several reasons for exhumation according to the constitution including to undergo a medical examination for a criminal investigation as was the case with Mwathi.

According to section 146 of the Public Health Act, the procedure can only take place after a permit is “granted only to the legal personal representative or next of kin or their duly authorized agent by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of health.”

Residents of the area had clashed with local administrators over being present during the exercise noting that the DCI officers would not do a thorough job, but the detectives implemented a number of techniques that include wearing appropriate personal protective equipment including blue and white impervious gowns with full sleeve coverage.

In addition, the officers wore gloves and gumboots as part of the protective measures for the exercise. According to the officers, the process of exhuming and examining the body was estimated to take about two hours.

Francis Wanjau, the Nakuru DCI boss added that it was important for the process to take the shortest time possible to avoid too much exposure of the body to other external factors.

Only family members are allowed to be present during the process of exhuming a body, with media coverage barred when practitioners deployed to cover the exhuming were sent away and instructed to report the progress from a distance.

The compound was sealed and manned by police officers and residents sent away from the environs to ensure that there was minimal disturbance and prevent the infliction of any other physical injuries to the body.

The death of the 23-year-old led to three similar cases occurring in quick succession, sending worry amongst residents of Kasarani and Roysambu estates, residential areas that were turned into the epicentre of headline-making mystery deaths across the country.

Mugithi singer DJ Fatxo was named as a person of interest in the case as Mwathi's death occurred at his house in Kasarani, Nairobi.

DCI boss Mohamed Amin (blue coat) on March 28, 2023, examines the Kasarani apartment where interior designer Jeff Mwathi allegedly fell to his death. /DCI