The death of Kenya Forest Service Legal Services Manager Esther Wairimu Keige continues to raise questions after an autopsy failed to establish what caused her death.
Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor said the postmortem examination could not reach a conclusive finding because the body was in an advanced state of decomposition when it was recovered.
Speaking after conducting the autopsy at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, Dr Oduor explained that there were no visible injuries found on Keige’s body.
However, he said samples had been collected and sent to the Government Chemist for toxicological analysis to help investigators determine what may have caused her death.
“We didn’t find any injuries on the body, but we have taken samples for further analysis at the government chemist. So, the cause of death was not conclusive,” said Dr Oduor.
The postmortem findings came a day after the search for the missing KFS legal manager ended in tragedy. Her body was found in a coffee plantation at Area 4 near Karimenu in Juja, Kiambu County after weeks of searching.
Keige, who was 54 years old, had been missing since June 10, 2026. She was last seen after leaving her office along Kiambu Road.
Her disappearance attracted public attention, with many people expressing concern over her whereabouts. On social media, some users linked her disappearance to her work involving public forest land disputes, although investigators have not confirmed any connection.
According to Juja Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Kombo, the body was found intact but had decomposed significantly.
Two members of Keige’s family later arrived at the scene and positively identified the remains.
As investigations continue, detectives are working to reconstruct Keige’s final movements before she disappeared. One of the latest developments in the case came after pupils at a nearby primary school reportedly told police they had recently seen a woman believed to be Keige asking for food before her body was discovered.
Investigators are now looking into the information as they try to establish a clear timeline of her last known movements.
The investigation has also taken another direction following information shared by Keige’s relatives. Family members told investigators that she had been struggling with a serious medical condition and had also been experiencing major depression in the period before she went missing.
Police have since started recording statements from relatives and other people close to her to better understand her condition and what may have happened before her disappearance.
Despite the new information, investigators have maintained that they are keeping an open mind and are not ruling out any possible line of inquiry. They say the toxicology results and other laboratory findings from the Government Chemist will be important in helping establish the exact cause of death and whether any other factors may have contributed.
The family is mourning the loss of their loved one while waiting for answers. They have confirmed that the body recovered in Juja is that of Esther Wairimu Keige but have said they are not yet ready to speak publicly as they continue to come to terms with the tragedy.
Police say investigations remain active, and they hope the laboratory analysis and additional witness statements will provide crucial information needed to complete the case and establish exactly what happened to the KFS legal manager before her death.
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