Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed claims linking his office to the sudden death of Kariobangi North Member of County Assembly (MCA), Joel Munuve, who passed away on Tuesday at a hospital in Kiambu County.
Speaking during an appearance on Citizen TV’s JKLive on Wednesday night, Governor Sakaja urged leaders and the public to refrain from politicising the tragedy as investigations continue. His remarks come amid growing speculation surrounding the cause of Munuve’s death, especially after reports emerged that the late MCA had initiated a campaign to collect signatures to impeach the governor.
“Allow me to pass my deepest and sincere condolences to the people of Kariobangi North who lost their MCA, Joel Munuve. He collapsed at home. I don’t know why you call it murder, maybe you have information, but the autopsy is tomorrow,” Sakaja said.
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The governor revealed that Munuve had no known medical conditions and reiterated the need for a thorough postmortem to determine the exact cause of death. He appealed to investigative agencies to conduct impartial and comprehensive inquiries to dispel any political conspiracies.
“Death is a serious thing and is not something we can play with or politicise. We have asked for a full investigation to understand what happened,” he said.
Sakaja described Munuve as a passionate and principled leader, noting that while they occasionally held differing views, they also found common ground on various issues.
“He was very firm and very passionate about the issues he believed in. There were times we disagreed, but also times we agreed. We sat down and had meetings. I spoke with his brother, Kimanzi, and I know they are doing the autopsy. We will support the family,” he added.
The governor urged agencies tasked with investigations to ensure justice is served if any foul play is established. “If it was foul play, there must be justice,” he said. “I believe in the right of everyone to be who they are, and no one should ever think that any kind of dissent should be met with any kind of violence.”
Joel Munuve’s death has sparked an uproar among a section of leaders and netizens, after viral clips showed him criticizing the Nairobi governor and calling for his removal from office. Critics claim Munuve died under suspicious circumstances, barely three days after launching the signature collection drive to impeach Sakaja.
The outcome of the autopsy and ongoing investigations is expected to shed more light on the MCA’s untimely demise.