The family of Julia Njoki Wangui, a 24-year-old woman who died in custody, will have to wait at least two more weeks for answers. Government pathologists say the initial post-mortem was inconclusive.
Speaking on Tuesday, Dr Peter Ndegwa, the government pathologist overseeing the autopsy, said further laboratory analysis is needed to determine exactly what caused her death.
“We found signs of bleeding in the brain that doesn’t appear traumatic,” Ndegwa said. “We also noted findings in her lungs, pancreas, and liver. These may all have played a role.”
Njoki died on July 10 while on remand at the Nanyuki Women’s Prison. She had been arrested days earlier during the Saba Saba protests, a wave of youth-led demonstrations across the country. Her family insists she was healthy when taken into custody.
A Brain Bleed, but No Clear Cause
While Ndegwa confirmed bleeding in Njoki’s brain, he said it did not look severe enough to immediately cause death. “We need to examine the brain thoroughly to trace the origin of the bleeding,” he explained.
Njoki had undergone a craniotomy—a surgical opening of the skull—but pathologists say they have yet to receive a complete medical report from the procedure.
The delay has left her family reeling. Njoki, a young mother from Nanyuki, reportedly collapsed in her cell. Attempts to get her urgent medical care failed.
“She was fine when she went in,” one relative said at a protest in Nanyuki. “We want to know what happened. Who let this happen?”
Rising Tension and Official Silence
Her death has sparked unrest in her hometown. On Monday, July 14, angry residents took to the streets, blocking roads and demanding answers. They waved placards and chanted Njoki’s name, accusing the justice system of neglect.
So far, the National Police Service has distanced itself from any wrongdoing. In a brief statement, police said no formal complaint had been filed implicating officers in her death.
“To date, no formal complaint has been recorded alleging misconduct—by commission or omission,” the NPS said. “Nevertheless, the relevant agencies will conduct swift, transparent and credible investigations into the matter, and accountability will follow.”
Still, rights groups and local leaders have demanded more urgency and transparency. With the political mood already volatile in the wake of recent protests and violent crackdowns, Njoki’s death has become a rallying point for many Kenyans calling for deeper reform of the country’s justice system.
Justice Delayed
Dr Ndegwa confirmed that pathologists have requested two additional weeks to finalise their findings.
But for Njoki’s family, the wait is yet another blow in a painful saga. “We just want the truth,” a family member said. “She didn’t deserve to die this way.”
Whether that truth comes in two weeks, or much later, remains to be seen. For now, her name joins a growing list of young Kenyans whose deaths have become symbols of a system many say is failing the people it claims to protect.