Senator Otieno Kajwang's cause of death to be known

Angry Supporters of the Late Homabay Senator, Otieno Kajwang demonstrates demanding to be told the results of the postmortem carried out on Late Homabay Senator, Otieno Kajwang's body in Nairobi. [Photo by WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD]

Kenya: Kenyans will today know what caused the heart attack that killed Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’, a close political confidante of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Early autopsy reports from a four-hour post-mortem examination confirmed that the senator died of cardiac arrest, but what triggered it will be revealed today, pathologists and the family confirmed yesterday.

It will follow more testing of his body fluids and tissues for a final toxicology report, they said.

The autopsy was conducted at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi in the presence of the family pathologist Prof Emily Rogena, Government pathologist Johansen Oduor, his brother Tom Kajwang’, family lawyer and Siaya Senator James Orengo, Nithi MP Kareke Mbiuki, Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.

The police were represented by Kilimani CID boss George Ojuka. Some of those present confirmed that the senator had a heart attack on Tuesday night but they asked not to be named.

Dr Oduor said the postmortem will not be complete until the final results are out. "The family has demanded that we wait until the toxicological results are out to conclusively tell what caused this," said Oduor.

Orengo, who said the exercise began at 8.30am and ended at 12.30pm, described it as thorough, but he and the other officials present were confronted by angry youths outside the mortuary who demanded that they announce the final autopsy results.

Orengo insisted that Kajwang' was in his house in Runda when he developed complications on Tuesday night before he was rushed to the Mater Hospital. He said ongoing speculation on the late senator's exact whereabouts prior to his death were malicious.

"Let it be known that he was in his house when he developed the complications and was later driven to Mater Hospital by his wife," said Orengo who is also acting as the family lawyer.

There was a tense moment after the rowdy youths demanded the immediate disclosure of the cause of Kajwang's death and threatened to disrupt the burial in Homa Bay if they suspect foul play.

"What are you hiding that you want us to wait until tomorrow? Announce it now," shouted the youth as the politicians and pathologists concluded their briefing.

After the autopsy, his wife was driven to their Runda home where President Uhuru Kenyatta visited and consoled them.

Yesterday, Orengo announced that two committees had been formed in Nairobi; one by the family and another one in Parliament, which will plan and announce the burial date.

"We have secured the death certificate and burial permit and are now waiting for the two committees to set the burial dates, which will be announced to you," he said.

This came as Wiper Democratic Movement postponed all its political activities slated for this weekend to mourn the fallen politician.

"We have seen it necessary to suspend all the political activities we had planned to allow our supporters to mourn the death of our colleague late Senator Kajwang," said Kalonzo yesterday after a closed-door meeting with elected Wiper leaders from Makueni County.

He said the country is still in shock over Kajwang's sudden death and so the party deemed it right and honourable to suspend the events in his honour. On Tuesday, Kajwang' had attended to his parliamentary duties and even gave what has been described as a sterling 15-minute speech while debating the Police Amendment Bill on national security and deployment.

"He was in the Senate until 6.15pm. In the Senate, he was a charismatic speaker. Yesterday, he made very a passionate debate on the Police Bill and was very articulate. He walked to me and said, 'boss I have done my job for the day. Let's meet tomorrow'. Tomorrow did not come," Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang'ula said.

Yesterday, an employee of Parliament retraced the late senator's final moments at Parliament's bar on Tuesday night.

The employee, who declined to be named, confirmed serving drinks to Kajwang'. "He came to the bar (in Parliament) at around 7pm," he said, explaining that MPs Aden Duale and Mohamed Elmi and freelance journalist Omondi Byroernne joined him.

"He (Kajwang) was taking Johnny Walker Black Label whisky," said the employee. Duale and Elmi left Kajwang' still drinking at the Parliament's lounge, but the employee could not remember their departure time.

He recalled that Kajwang' was still chatting with Byroernne and told Elmi on his way out to "enjoy yourself while you are still alive".

He told The Standard that after the end of 9pm news, Kajwang' asked for his bill to sign.

The former Immigration minister did not frequent the bar, he explained, but on this fateful day, he drank with colleagues, cracking jokes.

"Sio mtu wa kawaida, (he is not an ordinary person). This was the first time I served the senator. I have been working here for nine months, but have never seen him at the bar," he told The Standard.

After signing his bill, Kajwang said "thank you" and bid the waiter goodbye. Kajwang then left Parliament and went to his Runda home where he complained of chest pains. The family contacted his physician who was then at the Mater Hospital and upon arrival, he left the car and walked to the casualty reception but later collapsed. Doctors examined him for high blood pressure and suspected cardiac arrest.

Reporting by Cyrus Ombati, Geoffrey Mosoku and Roselyn Obala