A postmortem examination on Catherine Mwende Njeru, a 48-year-old woman who died after being thrown out of a moving police vehicle in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, has revealed that she had fibroids, not pregnancy as initially claimed. The autopsy, conducted by government pathologist Dr. Peter Ndegwa and Dr. Rosemary Wangare Kamao, found extensive fatal injuries, including a fractured skull, bleeding in and around the brain, and dislocation of the spinal column.
According to Dr. Ndegwa, Mwende sustained severe injuries, including fractures of some ribs on both sides and bruising of the lungs. The pathologist clarified that the uterus was empty, but Mwende had some fibroids, which are growths on the uterus. The autopsy findings contradict earlier claims that Mwende was pregnant at the time of her death.
The incident occurred on the Piai - South Ngariama road in Mwea East, Kirinyaga County, when Mwende and her husband, Anthony Muturi Waweru, were allegedly thrown out of a police vehicle by officers from Itangi Police Station. The couple was on their way to water miraa at around 3 am and pick it at around 5 am when the officers demanded Ksh. 1,000.
Human rights institutions, including Hussein Khalid of Vocal Africa and Jane Mwaka of the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), witnessed the autopsy and stated that the findings confirm police excess. They called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations and arrest the officers involved.
Khalid alleged that police officers in the area have developed a habit of demanding money to transport residents in police vehicles. He claimed that when people do not have money, they are often thrown out of vehicles, as in Mwende's case. The activists demanded justice for Mwende and urged the IPOA to take swift action.
Mwende's husband, Anthony Muturi Waweru, who also suffered injuries, recounted the ordeal in pain. He stated that the police officers asked them to enter the vehicle before demanding Ksh. 1,000 and throwing away his wife. Waweru demanded justice and the arrest of the officers involved.
The family has announced that Mwende will be buried on Tuesday next week at Makima village and has appealed to Kenyans and well-wishers to help them give her a decent burial. The family is of little means and requires assistance to give Mwende a dignified burial.
Key points
- The postmortem examination revealed that Catherine Mwende Njeru had fibroids, not pregnancy as initially claimed.
- Human rights institutions have called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations and arrest the officers involved.
- The family of the deceased has appealed for assistance to give Mwende a decent burial.
