An autopsy has identified neck compression as a possible cause of death for Nairobi resident Anthony Otieno, after an earlier postmortem failed to establish the precise cause of his death.
Anthony Otieno died after being arrested following a car chase by police officers through a residential neighborhood in Nairobi. The pursuit ended in an accident, after which Otieno was later found dead and his body taken to the City Mortuary.
A postmortem examination was conducted by government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia in the presence of representatives of Otieno’s family, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and human rights organizations.
The examination found minor superficial wounds on Otieno’s face and limbs. It also revealed bleeding in the muscles on the upper part of his neck.
Dr Midia said the bleeding could be indicative of neck compression, although further investigations were required before the exact cause of death could be conclusively established.
“So, cause of death, considering features of neck compression, there is neck compression, but we have to do other investigations, such as toxicology screening, tissue diagnostics.”
The pathologist said samples had been collected from the body for further examination by forensic laboratories.
He explained that the medical findings would need to be assessed alongside other evidence, including what happened from the time Otieno was allegedly picked up until his death and accounts from witnesses.
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Anthony Otieno Family Demands Answers
The family of Anthony Otieno has questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and rejected allegations that he was a thief.
His mother, Lucy Ndira, aunt Leonida Atieno, and family spokesperson Rex Omolleh were present during the postmortem and called for investigations into the events surrounding his arrest and subsequent death.
The family has questioned why Otieno was allegedly not booked at a police station and taken through the court process if he was suspected of committing an offense.
Omolleh also questioned what happened between the time Otieno was allegedly arrested around midday and about 10:22 p.m., when his body was taken to a Nairobi funeral home.
“We want answers; innocent Kenyans cannot keep on dying like this. Even if he was a thief, they arrested him. Why not take him to court? Why kill him?” Omolleh said.
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Police Account of the Incident
Police had given a different account of the events leading to Otieno’s death.
According to the police account, officers intercepted Anthony Otieno in Githurai 44 after he was allegedly found unloading stolen electronics from a vehicle.
A chase followed, and the vehicle later lost control and plunged into a ditch. Police have maintained that Otieno sustained serious injuries during the accident.
The family and local activists have questioned this account and called for further investigations to establish what happened after Otieno was allegedly arrested.
Dr Midia said he could only comment on the findings of the autopsy regarding the alleged accident and could recommend further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The latest autopsy findings have provided a possible explanation for Otieno’s death, but they have not yet established a definitive cause.
Samples taken from the body will undergo toxicology screening, tissue diagnostics and other forensic examinations.
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