Briton to carry out Mutula’s post mortem

Busia Senator Amos Wako (centre) and fellow Senior Counsel address the Press on funeral plans for Senator Mutula Kilonzo, yesterday. [Photo: tabitha otwori/standard]

By Moses Njagih

Nairobi, Kenya: A British pathologist has been called to oversee the post-mortem of the late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo's body, as investigations into the possible cause of his death continue.

Meanwhile, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama who is chairing the committee for Mutula’s burial indicated that the same could be conducted either on Wednesday, May 9 or Thursday 10.

He said that though the exact date had not been set, they were considering either of the two days to allow many of the late Senator’s friends time to attend the burial.

“For a person of Mutula’s status, we felt there is need to create enough time for as many people to make arrangements to attend the burial. We have not agreed on the specific day but we are considering either next Wednesday or Thursday,” he said.

Muthama said the United Kingdom pathothogist is expected in the country Tuesday morning to join the large team of local doctors in investigating what might have caused the former Senators death.

The Machakos Senator did not give the specific details of the foreign pathologist, but indicated that he had been contacted with the approval of Mutula’s family.

Muthama Monday revealed that the post-mortem, which was scheduled to be conducted Monday afternoon, was pushed to Tuesday when the foreign medic arrives.

“Not that there are any difficulties but because it was the wishes of the family to have an independent pathologist to conduct the post-mortem alongside other doctors. We are expecting the pathologist from UK to arrive tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6am, before the post-mortem is conducted in the afternoon,” said Muthama Monday.

Addressing the press at the Senate Press Centre, the Machakos Senator said it was feeling of both the family and other leaders that a thorough investigation be conducted to ascertain the true cause of the deceased’s death.

“We are not dealing with any other Kenyan here; we are dealing with a top politician in this country and a renowned leader. We must be in a position to tell Kenyans the clear cause of his death,” he said.

Muthama said that their move to involve a foreign medic for the autopsy should not be misconstrued as having any suspicions on the cause of death, but only the desires to get the best explanation to give Kenyans on the death of the former Senator.

“We just want to be thorough because Kenyans will demand answers for the death of a person who was in such a good health and who could even drive himself and inspect matters at his ranch. His death cannot just be wished away,” added Muthama.

He said that the foreign doctor could not have made it to the country earlier since he had only been contacted on Sunday.