A family in Munyutu Village, Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County, is racing against time to trace the missing body of their son, consultant surgeon Naftary Munene, after his wife allegedly transferred it from the mortuary without their knowledge.
Munene, 41, who worked at Kirinyaga Level Five Hospital, died on February 8 in what was reported as a road accident in Subukia, Nakuru County. His family, however, suspects foul play and had planned a second postmortem after expressing dissatisfaction with the initial one.
The first postmortem, which was arranged by Munene’s wife, Jane Wangui, revealed that he had suffered multiple broken ribs. The family questioned why his wife took him on a night trip despite his ailing condition. They planned further investigations, only to discover that his body had been removed from Gakwegori Funeral Home in Embu without their consent.
According to Munene’s mother, Esther Wanja, they were informed that Wangui picked up the body on Sunday, wrapped it in polythene, loaded it onto a pickup truck, and left in haste. The family’s attempts to trace the body in neighboring counties have yielded no results, leaving them in distress.
The funeral home maintained that they had no choice but to release the body to Wangui, as she was the one who had booked it in. Meanwhile, mourners who had gathered for funeral preparations have since left, further compounding the family’s grief.
Munene’s father, David Njeru, who visited the alleged accident scene, believes the impact was too minor to have caused his son’s death, adding weight to the family’s suspicions. He has called on authorities to investigate the circumstances of Munene’s death and the disappearance of his remains.
Village elder Silas Njeru echoed the family’s plea, urging detectives to act swiftly. “The family is in pain, and everything is at a standstill. The doctor deserves a dignified burial,” he said.
As time runs out, the family is desperate for answers, hoping authorities will help them locate Munene’s body and bring them the closure they seek.
