Police probe suspected poisoning in death of former Nairobi Hospital director Dr Obwaka

Wangari was arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts after spending the long weekend in police custody, as police sought more time to complete investigations into the circumstances surrounding the gynaecologist’s death.

Appearing before Kibera Deputy Registrar Barbara Akinyi, Wangari kept a low profile in a packed courtroom, with her face partially covered by a hat and face mask.

Prosecutors told the court she was the last known person to have been with Dr Obwaka and applied for 14 days’ custodial orders, arguing that investigators needed time to complete postmortem and toxicological tests.

“The investigators are seeking to remand her… to allow postmortem to be done. There are certain samples that are to be forwarded to the government analyst,” prosecutor Samson Ngetich said.

In an affidavit, investigating officer Rhoda Nzioka said detectives were probing suspected poisoning and that it may have occurred at Wangari’s residence in Milimani Estate, Kitengela.

However, Wangari’s lawyers disputed the poisoning claims, saying police had already searched her house and did not recover any evidence pointing to poisoning.

“This affidavit shows no basis for that averment… and if there were any basis at all then the investigations pertaining it has already been conducted,” her lawyer Levy Munyeri told the court.

Through her legal team, Wangari said she was in a romantic relationship with the deceased and had no intention of harming him.

The court allowed the application but granted detectives 10 days instead of 14, ordering that Wangari be held at Kilimani Police Station to allow investigations to continue.

The case will be mentioned on May 14, with police indicating a postmortem is expected to be conducted on Tuesday.