Thika: Burial of two brothers postponed over 'mysterious' postmortem

A planned funeral for two deceased brothers at Komo village in Thika, Kiambu County was postponed after the family discovered their bodies had been "gravely mutilated."

The bodies of Stephen Njoroge, 52 and his younger brother Francis Karanja Kanyari, 42 were set for burial at their remote village on Saturday, December 17.

The two are reported to have succumbed to Cholera after they reportedly ate a fish from contaminated river Komo, a stream that has lately been turned into a raw-sewage dumping site by exhauster operators who contravene waste disposal guidelines.

Confusion ensued when family members went to pick their bodies at General Kago mortuary where they are being preserved. They discovered that a postmortem had been conducted on their bodies without consent from all family members.

John Njoroge, a son of one of the deceased, told journalists that he woke up early to go prepare the body of his father for burial only for him to find out that parts of his father’s body had been cut out.

He explained that efforts to seek postmortem results from the morgue proved futile but he later realised that one of his auntie’s went behind their backs and okayed the exercise.

He lamented that the aunt ordered for the autopsy with an ill motive of transferring Njoroge’s land details in her name.

It is believed the auntie has been embroiled in a longstanding land tussle with Njoroge and has on many occasions attempted "to grab it."

Gladys Wangui, the wife to the deceased said they reported the matter to police who told them to agree on the way forward but advised them to seek to know the cause of Njoroge’s death.

Nelius Njeri, wife to Karanja on her part said doctors had told them the two brothers died of cholera and wondered why their sister in-law sought to go for another post mortem.

Francis Karanja, another family member revealed that they were willing to wait for up to two more weeks to conduct the burial, the date their sister told them autopsy results would be out.

Following the increasing Cholera cases in Kiambu County, residents have been calling upon governor Kimani Wamatangi to intervene and ensure provision of clean, safe water for all.

A month ago, Wamatangi banned food hawking to try and control the Cholera situation in the county.