Caroline Mwatha's body moved to Umash as workers strike at City Mortuary

Joshua Ochieng, the husband of Caroline Mwatha in Dandora, Nairobi, on February 11, 2019. [David Njaaga, Standard] 

With City Mortuary workers on strike, the body of Caroline Mwatha has been taken to Umash Funeral home, Nairobi.

And,  it has emerged that the owner of a clinic where police say a botched abortion that led to the death of the rights activist was carried out was jailed in 2005 over a scandal involving stolen babies.

Betty Akinyi Nyanya alias Betty Ramoya was convicted for helping register births of “miracle babies” who were stolen from their mothers and handed over to infertile couples in a case against Mary Juma Gilbert Deya of the Miracle Babies infamy.

Gilbert Deya was extradited from London where he ran Gilbert Deya Ministries to face the law in Kenya and is out on bail. 

Records show Akinyi, who was convicted by a Nairobi court on her own guilty plea, served six months at the Lang’ata Women’s Prison.

Six suspects have been arrested in connection with the mysterious death of the Dandora human rights activist,  whose body was found at Nairobi City Mortuary on Tuesday. Police have impounded the pick-up truck believed to have delivered the body to the mortuary.

Caroline Mwatha's husband Joshua Ochieng (in red) with Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid (centre) at City Mortuary on February 14, 2019. [Photo, Courtesy]

A statement from Directorate of Criminal Investigations says Mwatha may have died as a result of excessive bleeding during a botched abortion.

It states that their investigation reveals that she was five months pregnant and had been dating Alexander Gitau Gikonya who works at Isiolo County. Alexander is said to have sent money to procure an abortion.

“Further exploitation revealed communications relating to an intended abortion of five-month-old pregnancy between said Caroline and Alexander,” reads part of the statement.

It goes on to reveal that duo negotiated with New Njiru Community Centre, a clinic in Dandora Phase I, for Sh6,000 after which she proceeded to procure an abortion on February 6, 2019.

It further states that the activist died at the facility and her body was later moved to the City Mortuary at 4.42am on February 7, 2019. She was registered under Tag N0 1495 as Carol Mbeki, a false name, the statement reveals.

Police have therefore confirmed the arrest of six suspects believed to be behind her death and subsequent movement of her body to the mortuary.

They are: Betty Akinyi Nyanya using a nickname Betty Ramoya (owner of the clinic), Richard Ramoya Abudo (son of Betty), Georgia Achieng Tabitha, Michael Onchiri alias Dr. Mike, Alexander Gitau Gikonya (boyfriend) and Stephen Maina who is Uber driver.