City businessman Francis Ng’ang’a has opened up about the harrowing final moments of his wife, Lucy Wambui, who tragically died after a cosmetic procedure at a Nairobi clinic.
Wambui passed away on October 18, 2024 following a botched surgery at Body by Design, a facility that would later face police action, resulting in the arrest of several medical staff.
The incident sent shockwaves through the public, sparking debate about unlicensed cosmetic clinics and safety standards in Kenya.
On January 20, while testifying in a Kibera court, Ng’ang’a gave a vivid account of the suffering his wife endured during the Sh700,000 procedure, which ultimately proved fatal.
“When my wife went to the facility, she was fine. But after the surgery, she began experiencing severe pain, with human waste and blood leaking from her body,” he told the court, his voice breaking.
According to Ng’ang’a, alarm bells rang immediately when Wambui could not alight from their car upon returning from the clinic. When he asked her what was wrong, she broke down in tears, pleading to be taken back. By the time they arrived, however, the facility had already closed its doors.
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Wambui was rushed to Nairobi Hospital, where surgeons discovered she was in critical condition. Investigations revealed that faecal matter had leaked into her abdominal cavity, and her intestines had been perforated six times. The surgical team discovered that approximately 1.5 kilogrammes of fecal matter had leaked into her abdominal cavity
“Initially, the facility, after realising the damage, told me that my wife was only experiencing chest pains following the procedure,” Ng’ang’a said.
He added that the clinic operator repeatedly avoided responsibility, “taking me in circles” rather than being honest about the life-threatening complications.
Following Wambui’s death and public outcry over unlicensed clinics, ministry officials raided the facility. It emerged that the clinic was not licensed to conduct cosmetic surgeries; it was only registered as a beauty spa in 2022.
Wambui was laid to rest on November 5, 2024 at their Red Hill home in Limuru. The funeral was attended by several dignitaries, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.