NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called for swift, transparent and independent investigations into the deaths of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Senior Legal Manager Esther Wairimu Keige and advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki, saying the country deserves answers over the circumstances surrounding the two cases.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Maraga described the deaths as deeply disturbing and urged investigative agencies to establish the facts without delay.
Keige’s body was discovered in a coffee plantation in Juja, Kiambu County, nearly a month after she was reported missing. An autopsy conducted on her body failed to establish the cause of death because of advanced decomposition, with Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor ordering toxicological analysis.
Her death came days after advocate Edward Kariuki was reportedly shot dead in Athi River.
Maraga said the two incidents had raised serious concerns about the safety of professionals tasked with protecting public assets and upholding the public interest.
He noted that lawyers and professionals serving in institutions responsible for managing public resources often face significant pressure and security risks while discharging their duties.
The former Chief Justice referenced concerns previously raised by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) regarding the safety of advocates working in regulatory agencies and public institutions charged with safeguarding public assets.
Maraga called on investigators to establish whether the deaths were linked to the victims’ professional responsibilities or any matters they may have been handling before their deaths.
He also expressed concern over what he described as increasing allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, urging state agencies to uphold constitutional rights and the rule of law.
Maraga further warned against intimidation of public officers, saying institutions responsible for protecting public resources must be allowed to operate independently and without undue influence.
He urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to conduct transparent, impartial and credible investigations into both cases.
“We demand justice for Esther. We demand justice for Edward,” Maraga said.
