Autopsy reveals cause of Dr Job Obwaka's death

Autopsy confirms heart condition led to Dr Obwaka’s sudden death, as further tests continue. [File Courtesy]

The Nairobi Hospital Director, Dr Job Obwaka, died of cardiac arrest linked to heart problems that he had been battling, pathologists have revealed.

Three pathologists led by Dr Johansen Oduor, Peter Ndegwa and Joseph Ndung'u, who conducted the autopsy at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi, unanimously concurred with the findings.

"We have all concurred on the cause of his death; he had a cardiac arrest as a result of a heart problem that he had," Dr Ndegwa explained.

"However, even though he had a heart problem, we are still going to do some analysis because we have taken some samples," he added 

The pathologists said the liquid samples collected will be subjected to toxicology examination to rule out other possibilities related to Dr Obwaka's death.

Obwaka, 83, died on Friday, May 1, 2026, in Kitengela, in what the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have said he was in the company of his lover, Beatrice Wangari, who was arrested to assist in their probe.

On the material, detectives stated that Obwaka drove to Kitengela and met Wangari, who picked him up and spent time in her house before he collapsed and passed on upon arrival at the Nairobi Hospital.

Detectives stated that Obwaka and Wangari shared a meal, then requested to rest in the master bedroom, after which she joined him.

Shortly afterwards, his condition reportedly deteriorated suddenly.

William Obwaka, who spoke on behalf of the family, said that they were satisfied with the findings of the autopsy.

“The family concurs with the findings that the pathologists have given us and we have confidence in what has been done, even as we wait for other confirmatory findings when the toxicology results are out.

Lawyer Levi Munyeri, who was at the Lee Funeral acting for Wangari, said that the outcome of the autopsy was enough for his client to be set free.

"Now that the cause of death points towards heart condition, preconditions relating to the heart, and therefore it does not point towards foul play specifically by my client Beatrice Wangari, that is the purpose of the post-mortem," said Munyeri

"The consensus among the doctors in the room should be sufficient to stop the investigations against Beatrice; she is not in any danger," the lawyer added 

Munyeri added that his client was only unlucky that a tragic thing happened in her house.

"No one wants to hurt Beatrice; she is safe and sound. We also saw that she will be subjected to mental examination, which is another form of nonsensical issue that should not arise in the course of investigations," the lawyer added.