Mutula Kilonzo Jnr claims father was ‘eliminated’

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior testifies in a inquest into the death of his father the late Mutula Kilonzo at a Machakos court on September 26, 2017. PHOTO | STEPHEN MUTHINI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He said the samples sent to UK had not been sealed.
  • Mr Kilonzo said he had launched a complaint against the pathologists involved in the postmortem.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior has told the court that the death of his father Mutula Kilonzo was not ordinary but a well-organised "elimination."

He said the interference with samples collected from his father for toxicological tests pointed to the possibility of foul play and criminal act in the delivery of the same to the United Kingdom.

"The death of my father was not ordinary. It was a well-organised elimination probably in collaboration with workers followed by a massive cover-up," Mr Kilonzo told Senior Magistrate Kipkurui Kibellion in Machakos Court.

CAUSE OF DEATH

Mr Kilonzo was testifying in an inquest formed to establish the cause of the death of his late father and the first Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo.

Mr Kilonzo died at his Kwa Kyelu home in April 2013 and an autopsy report tabled in court revealed that the late Makueni Senator died of massive bleeding caused by high blood pressure. The report was tabled by Dr S W Mwangi.

He said the samples sent to UK had not been sealed as observed by the pathologist hired by the family Dr Ian Koller.

"In November 2013 I received a very disturbing email from Dr Kaller. He explained that he had gone out of his way to examine unsealed samples because of the gravity of the matter. Dr Koller said he would not sign the toxicological report until he received sealed samples, "Mr Kilonzo told the court.

He said the trail of the cause of his father's death has gone cold and even the inquest may be in vain as it will not produce the killer.

STORAGE

"I am greatly pained standing here doing an inquiry which may not bear results, "said the Senator.

He said there was no explanation given as to why the samples remained in Nairobi for nine days and who was the custodian of the samples for those days.

He pointed out that the management of the Nairobi Hospital, which took the samples was never questioned as to the storage of the same.

He also said the courier who transported the samples to UK was never questioned as to why they did not seal the samples.

Mr Kilonzo said he had launched a complaint against the pathologists involved in the postmortem.

"The death of the person of the late Mutula Kilonzo, the last Minister of Justice should not have been handled in such a casual manner," he said.

PATHOLOGIST

He said one of the pathologists Dr Rugene had taken pictures of the brain and it was 'absolutely red' which was unusual as Dr Rugene had never seen such an occurrence before.

"It was unusual, the presence of blood in the brain. The preliminary report said my father died of a substance that caused so much bleeding. He was bleeding from every organ including the muscles," he said.

He said contrary to assertion that his father had taken some drinks as exhibited by the presence of a Pepsi can at the scene of death, his father never used to take any sodas or carbonated drinks.

In his testimony Tuesday, Dr Simon Mwangi said the late Kilonzo died probably because of overdosing on cold capsules.

He said a special component found in the Senator's body plus caffeine from Pepsi beverage increased his blood pressure and caused haemorrhage on the brain vessels.

COLD

Dr Mwangi said he could not identify the pellets that the Senator had taken, but quotes a topology report that they were for treating cold.

However, Senator Kilonzo Jnr had earlier told the court he had never seen his father take such pellets.

Mr Kilonzo Jnr told the court that his father was in good health.

He however added that his father had complained of flu after returning from a trip to Mombasa soon after he had been sworn-in.

Another witness had told the inquest that Mr Kilonzo had complained of fatigue and had lost weight before he died.

Ms Stellar Mwendwa, who had worked as a Personal Secretary for Mr Kilonzo for ten years, said her boss had complained on several occasions of feeling tired.

Hearing resumes on October 10.