The investigation into the death of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Legal Services Manager Esther Wairimu Keige has taken a new turn after a postmortem examination failed to determine how she died, leaving investigators to wait for laboratory tests that could provide crucial answers.
Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, who led the postmortem at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), said the examination could not establish the cause of death because the body had badly decomposed.
He said there were no visible injuries on the body, prompting pathologists to collect samples that will undergo toxicological analysis at the Government Chemist.
"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 came a day after the body of the 54-year-old was found in a secluded coffee plantation in Area 4 near Karimenu in Juja, Kiambu County, bringing to an end weeks of uncertainty following her disappearance.
Keige had not been seen since June 10, 2026, after leaving her office along Kiambu Road. Her disappearance drew widespread attention, with online speculation linking the case to her responsibilities in handling disputes involving public forest land.
Juja Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Kombo said the body was recovered intact, although it was in an advanced state of decomposition. Two members of her family later identified the remains.
Detectives have since expanded their investigations after pupils from a nearby primary school told officers they had recently seen Keige asking for assistance to get food before her body was discovered.
The latest developments also follow information shared earlier by her relatives, who said she had been living with a serious medical condition and had experienced severe depression before she went missing.
Police are recording statements from family members as part of efforts to establish her condition before her disappearance and piece together the events leading to her death.
Investigators say every possible avenue is still being examined as they await toxicology findings and other laboratory results from the Government Chemist, which they hope will help explain the circumstances surrounding her death.
Her family has confirmed the recovery of her body but says it is not yet ready to address the public as it mourns the loss.