Journalist Silas Apollo died from blunt force trauma, broken ribs, autopsy reveals
The autopsy also confirmed significant internal bleeding as the cause of death.
An autopsy conducted at the City Mortuary has revealed that Silas Apollo, the renowned journalist who died in a road accident, succumbed to injuries caused by blunt force trauma to the head and broken ribs.
The autopsy also confirmed significant internal bleeding as the cause of death.
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“Postmortem done cause of death; blunt trauma force behind the head and two broken ribs,” read the results.
Apollo, who was working with the Nairobi Law Monthly at the time of his death, was struck by a speeding vehicle on the night of Thursday, April 10.
While initial reports conflicted about the exact location of the accident, police now believe he was hit while crossing Kiambu Road.
However, other reports emerged of a separate incident on Valley Road that night, adding confusion to the case.
“We were informed that his body was recovered from Kiambu Road. We are still waiting for more details,” a family member said after viewing the body at the City Mortuary.
The journalist's identity was initially unknown, and the body was recorded as that of an "unknown person hit by an unknown vehicle" before being transferred to the City Mortuary for further examination.
Sources close to the investigation indicated that a separate accident occurred on Valley Road that same night. The driver involved in this incident later reported to Lang'ata Police Station, claiming to have struck a dog in Kilimani.
However, after Kilimani Police confirmed the death of a middle-aged man in a road accident, the driver was detained, and the vehicle was impounded for further inspection. He was later released on police bail pending further investigations.
Meanwhile, Apollo’s phone is currently being held by the police in Kiambu as part of the ongoing investigation.
At the time of the accident, Apollo is believed to have been heading home along Thika Road.
Dedicated journalist
Friends and colleagues have described him as a dedicated journalist with a keen focus on political, current affairs, and business reporting.
Apollo had nearly a decade of experience in both print and broadcast journalism, with stints at Nation Media Group and The Eastleigh Voice, where he focused on political reporting.
Apollo was a graduate of Masinde Muliro University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Apollo’s sudden death has shocked Kenya’s media fraternity.
“His passion for storytelling and his calm, thoughtful presence in the newsroom will be remembered by all those who worked with him,” the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) said in a statement.
In February 2019, Apollo made headlines during the Dusit D2 terror attack after being rescued from the building following 12 hours of hiding in a toilet. He and his cameraman, Dickson Onyango, had gone to interview a Commission on Revenue Allocation official when gunmen stormed the premises. He later narrated the ordeal, recalling the harrowing moments they clung to life in silence.
His death comes just weeks after two other journalists were reported dead in separate incidents.
CGTN journalist Nick Mudimba collapsed and died at his home in Syokimau on March 23, while on March 21, KBC journalist Fredrick Parsayo was found dead in his house in Kinoo.
Over 20 Kenyan journalists have also died in road accidents over the last five years, among them veteran Swahili journalist Ken Walibora.
Apollo is remembered not just for his dedication to journalism but also for his warm, humane approach to work and life.
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