The main entrance to Bata Shoe Factory in Limuru, Kiambu County. Joshua Muthoka (inset) died at the company's clinic on October 26, 2024, after complaining of chest pains.
Joshua Muthoka fell ill on Saturday, October 26, at his workplace of 29 years - Bata Kenya, a manufacturer and retailer of footwear, apparel and fashion accessories in Limuru.
Friends and workmates told the Nation on Wednesday that the shoemaker had complained of chest pains the previous day and had asked for a day off on Saturday, when he was taken seriously ill, but was denied.
He reported to work but continued to complain of severe headaches and chest pains. When the pain became too much, his colleagues said, Muthoka, 49, crawled to an outpatient clinic within Bata Kenya, but there was no one there to attend to him.
He eventually succumbed and his body was taken to Tigoni Level IV Hospital mortuary.
On Wednesday, Bata Kenya declined to comment on Muthoka's death and allegations by close family members that the deceased met his death due to negligence.
The Kiambu-based retailer also declined to respond to claims by Muthoka's family and co-workers that he was forced to report to work even after disclosing that he was unwell.
Ms Terry Mwangi, who is in charge of marketing and communications at Bata-Kenya, declined to comment on the incident.
Post-mortem report
We are not aware of the matter and we are not ready to comment on the matter because we haven't even seen the post-mortem report," Mwangi told the Nation on phone on Wednesday.
Bata Kenya Managing Director Benson Okumu was not immediately available for comment when the Nation contacted him.
The post-mortem report seen by the Nation is inconclusive on the cause of Muthoka's death, necessitating the pathologist to subject the deceased to further tests.
Pathologists have already taken samples of his liver, lungs, brain, kidney, heart, gastric contents, blood and urine for further tests after the initial autopsy at Tigoni Level IV Hospital.
His widow, Christine Wayua, told the Nation on Wednesday that she was devastated by her husband's death and said she was hopeful that she would one day get justice.
''My life has been shattered. He was our breadwinner. We would want to know what killed him or who killed him. We would want him to get justice even if he is dead," she said.
"He had previously complained of being overworked, but I told him to persevere and not quit because we relied on him as our breadwinner."
A detective close to the investigation told the Nation that Muthoka's death was suspicious and was under active investigation, focusing on possible poisoning.
"I can see that it is a forensic post-mortem report that is under investigation because of the circumstances of the death. Professionally, you need a formal request with written consent from the relative because you are a second party and the matter is under police investigation for medical and legal reasons,'' the detective told the Nation.
He declined to be named in this report because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
Metal boiler
Muthoka's death at his workplace rekindles sad memories of the death of 35-year-old Caleb Otieno, who fell into a metal boiler at Blue Nile Rolling Mills Limited in Thika two years ago.
Blue Nile Rolling Mills Limited is a sister company to Blue Nile Wire Products Limited, the barbed wire manufacturer, and both companies are ultimately owned and managed by the Blue Nile Group.
Otieno had left Kisumu East for Thika town early 10 years ago after completing his secondary education.
He got his first job as a casual labourer with consumer goods manufacturer Bidco Africa, where he worked for three years before getting a job with Blue Nile Rolling Mills Limited, where he worked for seven years until his death.
Nothing was recovered from Otieno after he fell into a metal boiler. He was boiled in molten steel and his body liquefied.
On Wednesday, his family told the Nation that after realising that justice was elusive, they agreed to accept Sh2.3 million offered by his former employer as compensation.
Otieno's father, Martin Oraro, 74, had earlier complained about the meagre compensation offered by his son's employer.
On Wednesday, he told the Nation that he had no choice but to accept the money because his family was languishing in poverty and justice seemed elusive.
