The recent postmortem results for popular Kenyan influencers Lucy Wambui and Tabitha Gatwiri have deepened, rather than resolved, the grief and questions facing their families.
Both cases have drawn attention to healthcare safety and procedural accountability in Kenya, with specific medical findings still leaving the families and public with concerns about the broader circumstances leading up to their untimely deaths.
Lucy Wambui, a well-known Instagram celebrity and the wife of businessman Francis Ng’ang’a, died after complications following cosmetic surgery at the Body by Design clinic in Nairobi.
According to a postmortem report conducted by Chief Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, her death resulted from multiple perforated intestines, which he linked to complications from a liposuction procedure.
Her case has since triggered a formal investigation by the Ministry of Health, focusing on the clinic’s adherence to procedural standards and regulations.
Wambui’s family, while appreciating the medical findings, remains uncertain about the specifics of her care and whether the clinic’s practices adhered to required safety standards.
The Ministry of Health announced it was investigating the facility, with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) temporarily shutting down its operations while examining the treatment Wambui received.
Public Health PS Mary Muthoni confirmed that a team had been dispatched to assess whether the clinic met the necessary professional standards.
Despite this move, Wambui’s loved ones are left grappling with how the procedure took such a tragic turn.
The closure has highlighted an urgent need for greater regulatory oversight in Kenya’s growing aesthetic industry, which has become increasingly popular but remains loosely regulated.
Tabitha Gatwiri
Tabitha Gatwiri’s case presented its own set of heartbreaking revelations. Known for her humor and wide influence in Kenya’s online community, the content creator died unexpectedly, shocking fans and colleagues alike.
Her postmortem report, conducted at Kenyatta University Funeral Home, indicated that her death was due to positional asphyxia with brain edema, conditions often associated with obstructed breathing due to body positioning.
Gatwiri’s family revealed these findings in a statement but noted that a toxicology test would still be conducted to rule out other potential causes.
Positional asphyxia, while often seen in cases of accidental suffocation, left the family and her supporters questioning if there could have been any other contributing factors.
The term “positional asphyxia” refers to a type of suffocation that occurs when a person’s body position restricts proper breathing, a scenario that can lead to brain swelling, or edema, if oxygen levels remain low for too long.
While the autopsy confirmed the physical effects of asphyxiation, it left the door open for further investigation into the exact circumstances of her final moments.
Both Wambui and Gatwiri’s deaths have sparked intense public reaction, with social media buzzing with tributes, condolences, and appeals for more transparency within healthcare practices.
Many are calling for stricter regulation of aesthetic procedures, as well as clearer communication between healthcare providers and clients about the risks involved.
As the investigations proceed, these cases have become symbols of a broader call for accountability in the medical and wellness industries in Kenya.
Ultimately, while the postmortem results provided technical causes for the deaths of these young influencers, the emotional and societal impact continues to resonate.
Their families, still seeking a complete understanding of what led to these outcomes, await further investigations and results with the hope of achieving some level of closure.
