Autopsy results in Nanyuki: Inconclusive findings for Julia Njoki, police bullet blamed for Wambugu's death

The cause of death for 24-year-old Julia Wangui Njoki, who collapsed while in custody following the Saba Saba protests in Nanyuki, remains unclear after an autopsy conducted by three pathologists showed inconclusive results.

As reported by Daily Nation, although bleeding was found in her brain, it was not severe enough to be the direct cause of death, prompting medics to request additional tests and further analysis.

“We don’t see direct injury to the head; therefore, we suspect the bleeding could have been caused by something other than trauma,” said Dr Peter Ndegwa of the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), who led the autopsy team.

The pathologists also noted abnormalities in Wangui’s liver, pancreas, and lungs, which require further examination.

Toxicology tests will be carried out, and the team awaits a report from doctors who treated her after she collapsed at Nanyuki Women’s Prison.

Family spokesperson Susan Rienye said they were satisfied with the preliminary results and will wait for the final report, expected on July 28.

In a related case, the autopsy on 23-year-old James Wambugu, a Form Three student at Bingwa Secondary School, confirmed he died from internal bleeding caused by a gunshot wound during the protests.

The bullet entered his right hip and exited through the left, damaging several blood vessels and intestines.

“Wambugu died as a result of quiet haemorrhage due to a single gunshot wound in the pelvic area. The bullet severed several blood vessels, including the large and small intestines,” Dr Ndegwa stated.

The findings were unanimously supported by government pathologist Dr Ayub Gitaka and family representative Dr Dorothy Njeru. The autopsy was conducted under heavy security at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, with only authorised personnel allowed to enter the facility.

Officials from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Homicide Department were present.

Wambugu’s father, Lawrence Kiriinya, a DCI officer in Meru County, attended but declined to comment.

Family spokesperson Anderson Kirimi demanded accountability, saying, “Whoever shot our last-born brother should face the law. Wambugu had big dreams, which were abruptly cut short by a police bullet.”

The family also appealed to the government to waive his hospital bill.

Wambugu was shot at Likii Estate on July 7 while heading to school, about two kilometres from home. Unknown to the family, he had intended to join the protests and wore civilian clothes over his uniform to avoid detection.

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• police bullet blamed for Wambugu's death

A viral video shows youth throwing stones at plain-clothes police officers, with one officer firing warning shots before Wambugu falls after being shot. He was rushed to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital but died the next day.

His mother, Jane Kinanu, said Wambugu had previously dropped out of school but returned after surviving a brutal robbery in Isiolo Town in 2022. After months of intensive care, he vowed to become a doctor, inspired by the medical care that saved his life.

“He had quit school and relocated to Isiolo. After the attack, he enrolled in Form One in 2023 and vowed to become a doctor to save lives, just as the medics saved him,” Kinanu said.

The deaths of Wangui and Wambugu have heightened tensions in Nanyuki, with youth threatening to storm the police station in protest over the handling of the incidents.