Joel Munuve, the County Assembly Member for Kariobangi North, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, shocking many in Nairobi’s political circles. His sudden passing has raised serious concerns and many questions remain unanswered. What began as a normal day quickly turned tragic when Munuve, reportedly on his way to town, started experiencing severe chest pains.
Despite efforts to rush him to a hospital along Kiambu Road, he sadly passed away before receiving any medical attention.Munuve was known for being vocal and fearless in holding Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja accountable.
As an independent candidate in an area dominated by party politics, he stood out as someone who put public interest above political alliances. He had recently raised questions about the ‘Dishi na County’ school feeding programme and was reportedly planning to file an impeachment motion against Governor Sakaja.
This timing has fueled speculation around his death, with many questioning whether it was purely natural causes or something more sinister.His family, still in mourning, now has to wait even longer to find out what exactly caused his death.
The postmortem, which was supposed to be conducted on Thursday, has been postponed. According to the family’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, this delay is to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to be fully involved.
Omari explained that the DCI’s specialised unit will assist government pathologists during the postmortem. He also confirmed that the family has the option of bringing in a private pathologist, and so does the County Assembly, given Munuve’s position as a political figure.
Omari emphasized that the law does not prevent anyone from appointing their own expert in such cases.The postponement of the autopsy has left Munuve’s family in a painful state of limbo. Meanwhile, public interest in the case continues to grow.
Governor Sakaja, while appearing on Citizen TV, urged the public not to jump to conclusions. He asked for patience, saying that the autopsy results would be made public and that a full investigation is already underway. He dismissed claims that this was an execution, stating that death is not something to politicize and that Munuve was a passionate leader who fought for what he believed in.Still, many remain unconvinced.
Munuve’s role as a critic of the county government, especially his boldness in questioning Governor Sakaja’s initiatives, cannot be ignored. His death came at a time when he was becoming increasingly active in demanding transparency and accountability. The circumstances surrounding his passing are too serious to be brushed off, and the growing suspicion reflects how deeply people feel about the need for truth.
The focus now shifts to whether the DCI and all involved parties will carry out a credible and transparent process. For the family and the public, answers are urgently needed. Munuve was not just a politician he was a voice for the people. The truth behind his death must come out, not only to give closure to his loved ones but also to uphold justice in a city where such cases too often go unresolved.