Police on the spot in Wanjiru death probe

The apparent doubts by pathologists over circumstances surrounding marathon star Samuel Wanjiru’s death could put the police in an uncomfortable position.

While police in Nyahururu treated the death as an open-and-shut case, chief government pathologist Moses Njue and other doctors appeared to raise questions over the manner in which investigations into the matter were handled.

It also emerged that attendants at the government mortuary in Nyahururu began the embalming process hours after the death, which could have interfered with evidence.

The athlete died on May 15 after he fell from the balcony of his Muthaiga home in unclear circumstances.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told Associated Press and the BBC hours later: “The fact of the matter is that Wanjiru committed suicide.”

But local police boss Jaspher Ombati said: “It is not yet clear whether it was a suicide or if he jumped out of rage or what caused him to fall.”

The police could take the flak for failing to secure the scene of the athlete’s fall and allowing it to be tampered with as it was washed clean.

Footage from closed circuit cameras at Wanjiru’s home showed his wife’s entry into the home on the fateful night was followed by a Land Cruiser.

It was therefore evident that there was at least one other person in the compound, apart from the watchman, when Terezah Njeri confronted her husband.

The police are understood to have closed the case within the week and were waiting for the post-mortem, which took place two weeks after the death.

The pathologist is yet to give an official statement, but on Wednesday appeared to question the nature of the fatal injury to the back of the head.

Wanjiru had injuries to his palms and knees, which the pathologists interpreted to mean he landed on his limbs, and could therefore not have suffered the fatal injury.

Meanwhile, Wanjiru’s remains can now be interred after the High Court in Nakuru lifted orders barring his burial.

“There is no valid reason for extending the orders barring burial preparation and the interring of the late Wanjiru and I therefore vacate the directions,” Justice Andrew Anyara Emukule ruled Thursday.

Wanjiru’s mother, Ms Hannah Wanjiru had filed an application seeking extension of orders saying investigations and post-mortem results had not concluded the cause of her son’s death.

But Justice Emukule said further investigations were no reason for holding the body since post-mortem had been done.