Concerns over possible medical negligence have been raised following the sudden death of Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve, with a County Assembly lawyer pointing fingers at AAR Hospital in Kiambu.
Speaking during a session at the County Assembly on Friday, lawyer Biko Ashioya claimed the hospital failed to detect a blood clot in Munuve’s leg that later traveled to his heart, causing a fatal pulmonary embolism.
“The clot had been there for a long time. It moved from his leg to his heart, and the hospital didn’t detect it. They should have noticed and addressed it before it turned fatal,” said Ashioya.
He was joined by County Assembly pathologist Dr. David Atandi, who revealed that a post-mortem—conducted by both independent and government pathologists—confirmed Munuve died from a massive pulmonary embolism, a condition in which a large clot blocks the main artery of the lung.
“We concluded that the cause of death was a large clot in the pulmonary trunk,” Dr. Atandi stated.
“While his external appearance seemed normal, the autopsy revealed that his left lung had failed and a major blood vessel to the heart was completely blocked.”
Ashioya maintained that Munuve’s death could have been prevented with proper medical evaluation. “This tragedy could have been avoided. The hospital failed to recognize the severity of the condition,” he said.
The autopsy further revealed a significant clot behind Munuve’s leg that had developed over time and eventually led to the fatal blockage. His heart was also found to be mildly enlarged.
Although the pathologists ruled out foul play, they concluded that the failure to detect the clot represented a serious lapse in medical care. “The County Assembly mandated us to investigate thoroughly, and the findings are clear — the clot had been present for a considerable period before it reached the heart,” one of the experts said.
Munuve’s unexpected death has sent shockwaves through Makueni County, where he was widely admired for his commitment to community development and public service.
Ashioya is now calling for a formal inquiry to determine whether negligence contributed to the MCA’s untimely death.
