Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - Staff at Lee Funeral Home have defended themselves against claims that the funeral home is responsible for the disappearance of former Nairobi Provincial Police Chief Timothy Mwandi Muumbo’s heart.
In a statement filed in court on Monday, Mortuary Assistant Achochi
Ongori and mortician Paul Chege denied any involvement in the missing organ.
This follows a lawsuit filed by Muumbo’s children, Johnstone
Kassim, Alex Munyasa and Carolyn Muumbo, who are suing the funeral home, former
Government Pathologist Moses Njue and others.
The case dates back to June 2, 2015, when Muumbo, aged 87,
was rushed to Nairobi Hospital and later pronounced dead.
His body was transferred to Lee Funeral Home for preservation
but his children suspect foul play, claiming their father may have been
poisoned despite a heart attack being listed as the cause of death.
Ongori and Chege explained that the heart was handed over to
Dr. Njue on June 25, 2015, for further analysis.
Ongori noted that it is common practice for doctors to take
organs for examination without notifying the family to avoid delaying funeral
arrangements.
The heart was sealed in a polythene bag and refrigerated by
Chege, who later received a call informing him that the organ was missing
during a second postmortem.
The disappearance of the heart has caused a legal storm, with
the family seeking answers.
Chege also testified that Dr. Njue had no memory of taking
the heart and even stated that he will confirm its whereabouts later, claiming
it may have been sent to his school in Thika.
The case has dragged on for years and despite the acquittal
of Dr. Njue and his son in a criminal trial, the constitutional case continues.
The next hearing is scheduled for July 22.
The
Kenyan DAILY POST
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