Autopsy fails to establish cause of KFS legal manager Esther Keige's death

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, with Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor citing advanced decomposition of the body.

Speaking after the postmortem at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), Dr Oduor said no visible injuries were found on the body, but samples had been collected for toxicological analysis to help determine what led to the 54-year-old's 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," said Dr Oduor.

The findings come a day after the search for the missing KFS legal manager ended in tragedy 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. Her disappearance sparked widespread concern, with speculation on social media linked to her role in handling 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 family members later identified the remains at the scene.

As detectives continue piecing together Keige's final movements, investigators are pursuing fresh leads after students at a nearby primary school told police they had recently seen her seeking help to get food before her body was discovered.

The development follows earlier revelations by relatives that Keige had been battling a severe 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 preceding her death.

Investigators say all possible angles remain open 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 tragic discovery but says it is not yet ready to speak publicly as it comes to terms with the loss.