NAIROBI, Kenya – An autopsy conducted on the body of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Legal Services Manager Esther Wairimu Keige has failed to establish the cause of her death after Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor cited advanced decomposition of the body.
Speaking after the postmortem examination at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), Dr. Oduor said no visible injuries were found on the 54-year-old’s body.
He said samples had been collected and forwarded to the Government Chemist for toxicological analysis to help determine the cause of 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,” Dr. Oduor said.
The findings come a day after the search for the missing KFS legal manager ended when her body was discovered in an isolated coffee plantation at Area 4 near Karimenu in Juja, Kiambu County.
Keige had been missing since June 10, 2026, after leaving her office along Kiambu Road, prompting concern among family members, colleagues and the public.
Her disappearance also fuelled speculation on social media because of her role in handling matters involving public forest land disputes.
According to Juja Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Kombo, investigators found the body intact but in an advanced state of decomposition. Two members of her family later identified the remains at the scene.
As investigations continue, detectives are pursuing fresh leads after pupils at a nearby primary school reportedly told police they had recently seen Keige seeking help to get food before her body was discovered.
The development follows earlier revelations by relatives that Keige had been battling a serious medical condition and major depression in the period leading up to her disappearance.
Police have since begun recording statements from family members to establish her state of mind and reconstruct the events leading to her death.
Investigators say all possible angles remain under investigation as they await toxicology and other laboratory results from the Government Chemist, which are expected to provide further insight into the circumstances surrounding her death.
The family has confirmed the discovery of Keige’s body but said it is not yet ready to comment publicly as relatives continue to come to terms with the loss.