GRIEF: The late Makueni Senator and former Cabinet minister Mutula Kilonzo was found dead at his ranch in Maanzoni, Machakos County. PHOTO/FILE NATION
By ANGIRA ZADOCK zangira@ke.nationmedia.com AND BENJAMIN MUINDI bmuindi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, April 28 2013 at 23:30
Posted Sunday, April 28 2013 at 23:30
IN SUMMARY
- Samples taken from Mutula’s body and death scene will be analysed for toxins, but pathologist cautions that circumstantial evidence of poisoning may be misleading
- CID team sent to leader’s home as pathologists prepare for autopsy on Monday
Investigations into the death of Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo will focus on food samples and other exhibits collected from his home, government pathologist Johansen Oduor said on Sunday.
And CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro said a team of senior police officers led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police had been formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Kilonzo’s death on Saturday morning.
Family spokesperson Chris Musau on Sunday said burial arrangements would start immediately after the postmortem examination. Mr Musau is a brother-in-law of Mr Kilonzo’s.
A committee to determine the date and place of burial was set up on Sunday after consultations between family and friends.
Briefing the Press shortly after the meeting in Mr Kilonzo’s Gigiri home, Mr Musau said other committees including one for Senators and MPs would be set up in the course of the week.
He said the body was moved to the Lee Funeral Home at 9pm on Saturday after pathologists and detectives carried out preliminary investigations in Kwa Kyelu ranch where Mr Kilonzo died.
And Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama said: “Because he was not only a member of Parliament but also a senator, committees will be set up at different levels to honour Mr Kilonzo.”
Dr Oduor, who led other pathologists in performing a preliminary examination on the body and scene before removing it to the mortuary, said detectives had forwarded to the Government Chemist samples, which include vomit collected from a sink in Mr Kilonzo’s home. They also took away food in the room where the body was found and two soft drinks.
Tests are expected to shed light on whether the drinks had been tampered with.
On Saturday evening, detectives collected samples from Mr Kilonzo’s bedroom, as well as a pair of trousers and the shirt that he had been wearing earlier in the day.
Dr Oduor said several pathologists would be involved in the autopsy to be conducted this afternoon at the Lee Funeral Home. A series of tests will be performed since circumstantial evidence of poisoning may be misleading.
Mr Muhoro said Machakos CID chief Kavete Kuloba would join the team from the CID headquarters that is leading the investigations.
“All the persons he interacted with including his bodyguard will record statements to shed more light on this case,” he said.
However, should the autopsy fail to disclose the cause of death then the pathologists will have to wait for the report from the Government Chemist, and this may take time. Dr Oduor said urine would be useful in establishing whether there was poison.
“He had already developed rigor mortis but the whole body was normal. There was no evidence of struggle in the room,” Dr Odour said.
Mr Kilonzo’s body was found lying face up with a lot of foam covering his mouth and nose.
There was vomit at the sink and on the floor, suggesting that he vomited before reaching the sink about 10 metres away.
Presidential contender James ole Kiyiapi was among the leaders and government officials who visited the family on Sunday.
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