Five years on, Ken Walibora's death remains a mystery

By Newsflash Reporter

Five years after the untimely death of renowned author and academic Prof Ken Walibora, his family says they are still searching for closure.

His widow, Anne Walibora, expressed the family’s continued anguish, noting that they are yet to receive a comprehensive report detailing the exact circumstances surrounding his death

“We continue to hold on to the cherished memories we shared, even as we await answers that may bring us peace,” she said on Wednesday.

April 10, 2020 marked a dark day in Kenya’s literary world. Walibora, whose Kiswahili books have educated generations and made him a beloved national figure, was hit by a vehicle on Landhies Road in Nairobi.

Despite his fame, he was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) as an unidentified patient. The ambulance crew that transported him labeled him simply as “an unknown African man.” He arrived at the hospital at 9:53am.

Despite medical efforts, his condition worsened, and he was pronounced dead at 1:10am the following morning. He was 56 years old.

A legacy remembered amid lingering questions

In a tribute published in one of the dailies on Thursday, the family echoed their longing for answers. “One day, someone will unravel the painful mystery behind his death,” the notice read.

“We remember mjomba (uncle), a devoted husband and father, a steadfast friend. We recall his humility, his wit, his charm, and his unwavering faith,” it continued. “Though memories can’t replace the joy of his laughter or the richness of his storytelling, they are all we have—until the dawn of Siku Njema.”

When reached for comment, Police Spokesman Michael Muchiri told Newsflash that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) took over the case. However, there has been no public update from the DCI on the status of the investigation.

KNH and Senate responses to the tragedy

A report presented by KNH to the Senate provided grim details of Walibora’s condition upon arrival. He had no front teeth, his mouth was filled with blood, and he had sustained significant trauma to the head and arms. The tendons in his right hand were exposed due to deep injuries.

Doctors diagnosed him with “polytrauma secondary to a road traffic accident,” a term indicating multiple serious injuries. By 10am, he was convulsing and placed on oxygen. However, despite supplementary oxygen, his condition deteriorated. At 4pm and again at 8pm, resuscitation efforts were made. Walibora suffered a cardiac arrest at 12:10am. A final attempt to revive him failed, and he was declared dead at 1:10am.

It wasn’t until April 15 that he was officially identified through fingerprinting as Kennedy Wafula Waliaulaa. A post-mortem conducted two days later concluded that he died from severe head injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

Following public outcry, KNH came under scrutiny for allegedly failing to treat Walibora with the urgency his condition demanded. The Senate Standing Committee on Health conducted a probe, the findings of which were tabled in March 2021.

Chaired by then-Trans Nzoia Senator Michael Malinga Mbito, the committee concluded that Walibora had, in fact, received the appropriate emergency medical interventions after his admission to KNH.