By Anderson Ojwang
What started as a political spat could spill over as a legal nightmare after an advocate wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions to open an inquest into the death of Maureen Gathiga Kinyua on 24th May 2019.
The family of James Kinyua Macharia wants an inquest opened into the death of their daughter to establish the cause of her death.
“Our instructions are thus to request you to direct the Inspector General of Police to put up a team of investigators and open an inquest on the same,” wrote Goeffrey Andanje of Omenke Andanje and Co. Advocates.
Through the law firm, the family wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions in a letter dated March 19, 2026, requesting an inquest into the death. The letter reads in part:
“This is in reference to the above subject matter in which we have been instructed by James Kinyua Macharia, the father to the deceased. Documents and witnesses whom we have talked to on the facts leading to the death of the late Maureen indicate to the contrary that she died from a road traffic accident. On the fateful day, the deceased was called by a lady friend who may have lured her to her death,” it read in part.
The family claimed a relative of a senior political figure from the Mt Kenya region could have lured their daughter to her death.
“The said lady who is a relative to a senior political figure in Mount Kenya region then called his brother who apparently operates boda boda and asked him to drop the deceased at her home. The said gentleman then immediately fled from the scene and went back only after the area base commander called him. At the scene, the purported motorcycle did not have dents to suggest that there was an accident and the deceased had a hole penetration in the forehead,” it reads.
Kinyua also claimed the wife of the senior political figure visited the scene of the alleged accident, raising questions about the motive.
“It is also worth noting that the wife to the said senior political figure immediately appeared at the scene and left after confirming the death. As a cover-up, the deceased’s mobile phone, which would have revealed the thick plot, went missing as it could have indicated the people she had been in communication with,” it reads.
They based their belief of a possible murder on several factors:
“The father is highly suspicious and doubts that the deceased died out of an accident based on the following facts: Maureen was called to Mataga area and stayed there until after 6:00pm. When the deceased wanted to leave, the said lady called the brother with instructions on where to take her. The said brother disappeared and went back to the sister (probably after delivering Maureen to her killers). The motorcycle purported to have been involved in the accident did not have any dents. The deceased had a hole in the forehead (suspected to be a bullet entry), which the autopsy failed to mention. The wife of the senior political figure came to the scene to confirm something and later left,” it reads.
President William Ruto, at a function in Mt Elgon, claimed that a senior opposition politician had impregnated a girl the age of his daughter and later allegedly murdered her.
“Someone who impregnated a young girl and then later allegedly killed her. What will you tell us about deaths? You cold-blooded murderer. You want to mislead our nation. We will not allow you to mislead anyone in Kenya and you are not going to be anything in this nation. You belong to rot in jail,” he said.
The President and opposition leaders have, in the last week, been engaged in an open spat involving body shaming, personal attacks, and insults.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ignited the row at the weekend in Kiambu when he attacked President Ruto.
“We will make sure William Ruto, you are not going to sleep for the next 15 months. You will sleep when you finally reach Sugoi. We will expose you. You have seen how he has reduced in weight. It’s just the beginning,” he said.
Recently, Gachagua’s DCP party refuted claims linking him to the death of the blogger.
“Popular blogger and social media personality Maureen Gathigia Kinyua tragically passed away on May 24, 2019, in a road traffic accident near Sagana Catholic Church in Mathira, Nyeri County. Investigations into the incident classified it as a hit-and-run, and there is no official evidence linking her death to murder or foul play,” the statement read.
“The driver involved in the incident was subsequently charged in Karatina Court with causing death by dangerous driving and later released on a Ksh150,000 bond while awaiting further legal proceedings. Thus, there is no possible way Gachagua could be linked with the death of the blogger,” it added.
