NAIROBI, Kenya – The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has appealed to members of the public to provide any information that could assist detectives investigating the death of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Legal Services Manager Esther Wairimu Keige, saying homicide has not been ruled out as forensic investigations continue.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the DCI said detectives are pursuing all plausible lines of inquiry following the recovery of Keige’s body at a coffee plantation in Juja, Kiambu County, after weeks of extensive search operations.
Keige was reported missing on June 10, 2026, after her driver dropped her at the Shell petrol station in Juja, adjacent to Senate Hotel, where she had intended to inquire about gym services. According to investigators, the driver waited at the location, but she never returned.
The disappearance triggered a multi-agency search involving detectives, intelligence officers and partner security agencies.
According to the DCI, investigators reviewed CCTV footage, conducted forensic examinations, interviewed witnesses, analysed mobile phone data and carried out intelligence-led operations while searching multiple locations linked to Keige’s movements.
Searches were conducted in Juja, Kenyatta Road, Gatundu, Darugo, Mang’u, the Murram area, Stage 4 and surrounding areas. Detectives also visited hospitals and mortuaries in an effort to trace the missing lawyer.
During the investigations, detectives established that Keige had been battling depression and was undergoing treatment. The DCI also said inquiries revealed she had previously disappeared from home on three separate occasions before returning safely.
Senior police officers and Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) detectives processed the scene before the body was transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Funeral Home.
The body was later positively identified by Keige’s sister.
Detectives recovered Keige’s mobile phone at the scene. The phone was intact but switched off, while her shoes had been removed and placed beside the body.
A post-mortem examination conducted by government pathologists found no external injuries consistent with assault. However, the pathologists were unable to determine the cause of death because of the body’s advanced state of decomposition.
Samples have since been submitted for comprehensive toxicological and other forensic examinations to establish both the cause and manner of death.
The DCI stressed that investigations remain active and that detectives are awaiting the outcome of laboratory analyses, which are expected to provide critical leads.
The agency urged anyone with information regarding Keige’s movements between June 10, 2026, and the recovery of her body to report to the nearest police station or contact the DCI through its toll-free hotline or official WhatsApp channel.
The appeal comes amid growing public interest in the case, with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) and former Chief Justice David Maraga among those calling for thorough, transparent and independent investigations into the circumstances surrounding Keige’s death.
The DCI reiterated its commitment to conducting an impartial, evidence-led investigation to establish what happened and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
