- The Directorate of Criminal Investigation has launched an investigation into the death of Nairobi lawyer Chris Mwenda at Meridian Equator Hospital
- Post-mortem results revealed that Mwenda died of respiratory depression and hypoxia caused by propofol given outside safe clinical limits.
- The case became more complicated after the Kenya Bar Association raised concerns about the delayed release of medical records and alleged falsification of reports.
The Office of the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has opened an investigation into the death of Nairobi lawyer Chris Mwenda.
Source: Facebook
This follows the results of a post-mortem which revealed that the lawyer was allegedly killed following an unsafe level of anesthetic during a routine medical procedure at the Meridian Equator Hospital in South C.
Mwenda, a High Court lawyer, checked into a private facility on December 18, 2025, for what doctors described as a routine endoscopy meant to check for minor gastrointestinal disturbances.
However, as fate would have it, the 32-year-old lawyer did not make it out alive, with the hospital releasing information that his autopsy was proven false.
The government’s autopsy put the hospital and the attending medical staff under intense scrutiny, raising serious questions about medical negligence, protocol violations, and alleged attempts to cover up what happened in the operating room.
An autopsy, conducted by chief government psychiatrist Johansen Oduor in the presence of psychiatrists from Meridian Equator Hospital and representatives of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), concluded that Mwenda died after being administered propofol in a manner that fell outside the safe clinical limits, a powerful anesthetic.
The results showed that the way the anesthetic was administered caused respiratory depression and oxygen deprivation, ultimately leading to his death before the endoscopy surgery was even performed.
How did Chris Mwenda’s family receive the sad news?
For Mwenda’s family, the tragedy is still difficult to understand because what was expected to be a short visit to the hospital ended with a great loss.
Earlier that morning, the young lawyer was reportedly in high spirits, communicating with family members as he prepared to head to the hospital.
His brother, Joram Muriuki, recalled that Mwenda left home calmly, expecting to return shortly after the surgery.
“Christopher talked to the rest of us and happily said he was rushing to the hospital,” Joram recounted.
However, at about 12:17 pm, the family received a distressing call from the medical center where he had gone for surgery.
Instead of a clear statement, Mwenda’s brother said he was only asked to report to the center and when he arrived, the hospital staff allegedly refused to explain what was going on.
Joram said that they were insisting that Mwenda’s parents should be present before any information could be shared.
Sadly, when the family was officially notified a few hours later, Mwenda had already passed away.
How did Propofol affect Mwenda’s condition?
Vice president of LSK Mwaura Kabata said the hospital seemed reluctant to release medical records and summary of being allowed to leave the hospital, thus increasing the family’s doubts.
It is after pressure from the Bar Association, the office DCI of Lang’ata, and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Government Diseases where Mwenda’s body was taken for safekeeping and an autopsy.
According to investigators, the doctor who performed the operation, identified as Kevin Murimi, told DCI that immediately after giving 22 milliliters of propofol, Mwenda’s condition deteriorated rapidly.
His blood pressure reportedly dropped, his heart rate increased, his breathing became shallow, and his oxygen levels dropped significantly.
An endoscopy was never performed as medical staff tried unsuccessfully to sedate him.
Philip Mwangale, a lawyer representing LSK in the matter, said the investigation raised more troubling concerns.
“And so the attending doctor, Dr. Murimi of the Meridian Equator Hospital, informed the family that while he was preparing to do the endoscopy, anesthesia was given and in the exact words of the doctor, he had given him 20 milliliters of a substance, an agent called propofol. When he gave him that agent, Christopher’s life changed,” Mwangale said.
The results showed no evidence that an endoscopy had been performed, contradicting medical reports later released by the hospital.
“The post-mortem examination showed that the results of the endoscopy purportedly included in the medical report issued by the hospital may have been fabricated,” Mwangale revealed.
Source: UGC
The autopsy team agreed that Mwenda’s basic condition was not life-threatening, while Kabata noted that the defender would not have died from the stomach irritation he was experiencing.
There was further inconsistency regarding the dose of medication administered with the attending physician reportedly telling the family that 20 mL of propofol had been used, but later written records indicated a smaller amount.
However, a post-mortem examination confirmed that Mwenda had been given an overdose, along with other drugs including amlodipine and hydralazine.
Medical experts warn that propofol is a dangerous drug guided by strict guidelines and protocols that require it to be administered only by a trained anesthesiologist, with continuous monitoring of the patient’s oxygen levels, blood pressure, and breathing. Any failure in airway management can quickly lead to death.
The Medical and Dental Council of Kenya is expected to release its findings on the hospital’s conduct and adherence to medical standards.
What were the last days of Lucy Wambui?
In a related report, the case against the operators of Nairobi’s Body by Design clinic took a surprising turn on Tuesday, January 20, after the husband of the late Lucy Wambui gave an emotional statement in court.
Francis Ng’ang’a Mundia testified before Kibera chief magistrate Christine Njagi, describing his wife’s last days following cosmetic surgery in October 2024.
He said Wambui had paid about KSh 700,000 after seeing advertisements online, despite his objections.
According to her testimony, she experienced excruciating pain after the procedure, which worsened as the clinic staff allegedly ignored her concerns.
He was later released from the hospital in critical condition, weakened at home, and was rushed to the hospital, where he died.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
