An autopsy report has contradicted earlier claims that the Kianjokoma brothers, Benson Njiru Ndwiga and Emmanuel Mutura Ndwiga, died after jumping from a moving police vehicle. The brothers, who tragically passed away on August 1, 2021, during the enforcement of curfew at Kianjokoma Trading Centre, were initially believed to have leaped out of a police vehicle while under arrest. However, the findings from the pathologist have raised serious questions about the circumstances of their deaths.
According to the autopsy conducted by a government pathologist at Embu Level Five Hospital, the cause of death for both brothers was severe head trauma, not the result of jumping from a moving vehicle. The pathologist revealed that the brothers sustained blunt force trauma, which resulted in extensive skull fractures, jaw fractures, and lacerations to the brain. Their faces and arms showed visible bruises, and their heads were severely deformed, with damage consistent with multiple traumatic injuries rather than a fall from a vehicle.
The pathologist further explained that the injuries were inconsistent with a fall, noting that had the brothers jumped from a moving vehicle, the injuries would have been more localized, with fractures typically occurring in the area of impact. Instead, the brothers’ injuries were global, affecting various parts of their skulls, face, and limbs. The extensive nature of the damage indicated that the cause of death was likely due to external violence rather than an accident.
The autopsy results have led to a significant shift in the investigation, as the original classification of the deaths as road traffic accidents is now under scrutiny. It has been revealed that when the cases were first reported, they were filed as traffic-related incidents, but the pathologist’s testimony challenges this assessment, pointing to the possibility of foul play. The findings suggest that the brothers were victims of a violent encounter, which is at odds with the initial narrative put forth by law enforcement.
In response to the findings, six police officers, including Benson Mputhia, Consolata Kariuki, Nicholas Cheruiyot, Martin Wanyama, Lilian Chemuna, and James Mwaniki, are facing charges related to the brothers’ deaths. The murder trial has garnered national attention, and the latest autopsy report has provided crucial evidence to support claims of police brutality in the incident.
