NAIROBI, Kenya – The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) has called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the death of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Legal Affairs Manager Esther Wairimu Keige, warning that the incident reflects the country’s deepening femicide crisis.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the women’s rights organisation said Keige’s disappearance and subsequent death should not be treated as an isolated incident but as part of a broader pattern of violence against women that continues to claim lives across Kenya.
“Kenya is caught in an unrelenting femicide crisis, where women are targeted and stripped of their fundamental right to life,” FIDA-Kenya said, urging authorities to strengthen efforts to protect women from gender-based violence.
The organisation called on the National Police Service (NPS) to conduct a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Keige’s disappearance and death.
It further urged investigators to identify those responsible, ensure they are prosecuted, and hold any individuals or institutions found culpable accountable under the law.
Weeks of uncertainty
Keige, who served as the Legal Affairs Manager at the Kenya Forest Service, disappeared on June 10, 2026, after leaving her office along Kiambu Road.
Her body was discovered several weeks later in a coffee plantation at Area 4 near Karimenu in Juja, Kiambu County, ending an extensive search that had generated widespread public concern.
“The police must urgently investigate and unmask those behind her abduction and death, and ensure they face justice. Any individuals or entities found culpable must be held accountable according to the law,” FIDA-Kenya said.
Juja Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Kombo confirmed the discovery of the body, which was positively identified by family members before being transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) mortuary.
An autopsy conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor was unable to conclusively establish the cause of death because the body was in an advanced state of decomposition. Samples were collected for toxicological analysis, with investigators awaiting laboratory findings.
Police have since continued recording statements from family members and other witnesses as investigations progress.
Calls for independent investigations
FIDA-Kenya’s statement comes amid growing calls from legal and civil society organisations for an independent probe into Keige’s death.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has also demanded a multi-agency investigation, with LSK President Charles Kanjama noting that Keige’s death came only days after advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki was fatally shot in Athi River.
The back-to-back deaths have raised fresh concerns over the safety of lawyers and professionals working in public institutions and regulatory agencies.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has similarly urged investigative agencies to establish whether either death could be linked to the victims’ professional responsibilities.
Renewed focus on gender-based violence
FIDA-Kenya said Keige’s case highlights the urgent need for stronger institutional responses to gender-based violence and the protection of women’s constitutional right to life and security.
The organisation extended its condolences to Keige’s family, friends and colleagues, reaffirming its commitment to advancing justice, gender equality and the protection of women from all forms of violence.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding Keige’s death remain ongoing as police await the results of toxicology and other forensic examinations expected to help determine what led to her death.