Kenyans and the family of the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will have to wait for six weeks to get a conclusive report from the Government on what could have killed Fidel Odinga
Pathologists agreed to undertake toxicology and histology examinations, which is a scientific laboratory analysis to further establish what could have led to Fidel’s untimely death.
These analyses aim to establish the levels of harmful organisms in the body that could result in the sudden change of body environment to result in death. Further, the lead Government Pathologist Dorothy Njeru and Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor and family pathologists Prof Emily Rogena and Dr Bessie Bykika categorised the samples into three groups for maintained integrity of the specimen and to allow different analysis to be performed in different areas.
The family will fly some of the samples collected out of the country for further tests. Pathologists who carried out the post-mortem examination on the late Fidel, who is Raila’s first born son, confirmed that they were unable to ascertain the cause of his sudden death.
The pathologists were unable to find any traces of medicine he might have taken as his stomach was completely empty. A close family member said that after high-profile deliberations with the deceased’s family, it was agreed that the family proceeds with further laboratory analysis outside the country.
“The pathologists carried out the first phase of the post-mortem where they did not find anything concrete to conclude the cause of death. They, however, noticed abnormal lungs and infection in the throat,†said the family kin.
He continued: “The pathologists therefore collected about 19 samples for further laboratory tests at the Government Chemist and at a private facility in Nairobi.†Dr Njeru and Dr Oduor promised to release the laboratory analyses within six weeks.
However the two, together with family pathologist Prof Rogena and Dr Bykika, declined to disclose when they are expected to conclude the laboratory analyses, only insisting that the process begins immediately.
“The examination was carried out in two phases. The first was body examination which is a physical observation or viewing of the body to ascertain the cause of death. We only saw feasted tonsils and lungs with a lot of fluid,†said another family member who witnessed the autopsy exercise.
Siaya Senator James Orengo, who was present throughout, admitted that it was a tedious process, which lasted the whole of Tuesday, without a conclusive finding. Dr Njeru said they had carried out the postmortem on the late Fidel in two parts, body examination together with body dissection, and based on this examination, they were unable to come up with a conclusive result.
“We have agreed as a team to proceed to the next stage of examination, which is the laboratory examination and this being right now. All pathologists that have been involved in the post-mortem examination will be taking part in the laboratory analysis.
Will give our report once we are done with the analysis,†said Njeru. Rogena said they took take several samples to look into the root cause of death.
“We have taken a number of samples to establish cause of death. As of now, we have agreed nothing tangible was found to explain cause of death,†said Dr Rogena.
The Government Chemist can only perform the toxicology examination, while the histology will be carried out at a private hospital in Nairobi. The family raised concerns of limited capacity, which resulted in the decision to send the samples abroad.
“There was the concern that the available machines might not detect some critical evidence and hence the decision to conduct a parallel investigation,†said the family member.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma emphasised that the investigation was still with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and therefore hoped to receive the results soon.
“The homicide department is still probing this matter, they are working closely with the pathologists in piecing together the samples collected,†said Kaluma.
Others who witnessed the post-mortem examination at Lee Funeral Home included legislators Oburu Odinga (Raila’s elder brother), Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), T J Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), Kaluma Sylvannes Osele (Kasipul/Kabondo) and James Nyikal (Seme).