Chris Mwenda: DCI Probes Lawyer’s Death After He Was Allegedly Overdosed During Routine Procedure
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched an in-depth probe into the death of Nairobi-based advocate Chris Mwenda following allegations of medical negligence during a routine procedure at a private hospital in the capital. The investigation follows post-mortem findings that indicate the lawyer may have been administered an unsafe dose of anaesthesia, raising serious concerns over clinical standards and accountability.
Mwenda, a 32-year-old High Court advocate, visited Meridian Equator Hospital in Nairobi’s South C area on December 18, 2025, for what doctors described as a routine endoscopy to assess mild gastrointestinal discomfort. The procedure, which is generally considered low-risk, never took place. Mwenda died shortly after being sedated, before any diagnostic intervention was performed.
A government autopsy conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, in the presence of pathologists from the hospital and representatives of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), concluded that Mwenda died due to complications arising from the administration of propofol, a powerful anaesthetic drug. The findings placed the hospital and the attending medical personnel under scrutiny for possible breaches of established medical protocols.
According to the post-mortem report, the anaesthetic was administered in a manner that caused respiratory depression and hypoxia, leading to cardiac failure. Investigators noted that Mwenda’s underlying medical condition was not life-threatening and could not, on its own, explain the sudden death.
Mwenda’s family said the events of that day remain difficult to comprehend. His brother, Joram Muriuki, recalled that the advocate was in good spirits on the morning of the procedure and expected to return home shortly.
“Christopher chatted with the rest of us and happily said he’s rushing to the hospital,” Joram said.
However, at around 12:17pm, the family received a call from the hospital requesting them to report there immediately. Joram said staff declined to provide details, insisting that Mwenda’s parents had to be present before any information could be shared. By the time the family was formally briefed several hours later, Mwenda had died.
LSK Vice President Mwaura Kabata said the hospital was initially reluctant to release medical records, including a discharge summary, raising further suspicion. “There was hesitation in releasing documentation, and that is what prompted intervention by the Law Society, the DCI, and the Office of the Chief Government Pathologist,” Kabata said.
DCI investigators recorded a statement from the attending doctor, identified as Dr Kevin Murimi, who reportedly said Mwenda’s condition deteriorated shortly after he administered 22 millilitres of propofol. According to the doctor, Mwenda’s blood pressure dropped, his heart rate increased, breathing became shallow, and oxygen levels fell dangerously low. Efforts to stabilise him were unsuccessful.
Advocate Philip Mwangale, representing the LSK in the matter, said the autopsy revealed disturbing inconsistencies between the hospital’s account and the physical findings.
“Post-mortem revealed that the results of the alleged endoscopy included in the medical report supplied by the hospital may have been fabricated,” Mwangale stated.
The autopsy further confirmed that Mwenda had been given an excessive dose of propofol alongside other medications, including amlodipine and hydralazine. Medical experts warn that propofol is a high-risk drug that should only be administered by trained anaesthetists under continuous monitoring, as any lapse in airway management can rapidly turn fatal.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council is expected to conduct its own inquiry into the hospital’s conduct and compliance with professional standards as the DCI investigation continues.
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Chris Mwenda: DCI Probes Lawyer’s Death After He Was Allegedly Overdosed During Routine Procedure
