Slain city lawyer Thomas Imbukwa.
The family of slain city lawyer Thomas Imbukwa, who died on April 21, 2026, exhausted every effort to save him, but his injuries proved too severe.
The 42-year-old lawyer was found in critical condition at 6am on April 19, 2026, by a shopkeeper who alerted the authorities.
Early in his career, Imbukwa had served as part of the legal counsel in the case of the late human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, who was murdered in 2016.
 
His sister, Mikal Imbukwa, received the news while upcountry in Vihiga County for her niece’s burial. A police officer informed her that her brother, the third-born in a family of seven, was in a dire state. When she insisted on speaking with him, he could only express the intensity of his suffering.
“He just told me, ‘I am in a lot of pain,’” Mikal said. “I organised for those nearby to go to Harambee Sacco Estate in Donholm to assist him. He was eventually taken to Mbagathi Hospital by ambulance at around 10am.”
Slain city lawyer Thomas Imbukwa.
Even from afar, she continued to coordinate his treatment. Initial scans revealed internal bleeding, but by the time the family was prepared to conduct a second scan to locate the source, the Mbagathi imaging centre had closed. This forced them to move him to a different facility for the procedure.
“When they brought him back, we were told that the internal bleeding in his lungs was beyond their capacity to treat, and he was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital,” Mikal said.
'Not a pleasant sight'
She travelled back to Nairobi on Sunday night and arrived at Kenyatta National Hospital on Monday morning to find his condition deteriorating. According to Mikal, her brother was in such intense pain that he could not remain still. His constant movement eventually forced doctors to restrain his hands, legs, and torso to the bed for his own safety.
“When I saw him in Surgical Room 9, his eye looked as if someone had tried to tear it from the socket. My heart sank; it was not a pleasant sight,” she said. “He was persistent about standing up, which the doctors advised against.”
Medical staff moved him to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and requested that Mikal sign a consent form to drain blood from his swollen lungs. Even while restrained, he continued to struggle, and the family feared he would dislodge his tubes. Later, doctors informed Mikal that they were dissatisfied with his oxygen levels despite the assistance of a ventilator.
As his condition worsened, doctors advised moving him to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but no beds were available. The family prayed for a miracle, fearing that transferring him to another facility would only exacerbate his condition.
“They asked me to pray for a bed and to sign the forms for intubation, which was done. But they told us the outlook was grim; the doctor could not guarantee his recovery,” Mikal said. “I eventually left for a moment to freshen up, as I had been at the hospital for a long time. My sister remained behind.”
While away, Mikal received a call from her sister stating that their brother had been resuscitated. She rushed to the Savannah Police Station to obtain an OB number before returning to the hospital.
“By the time I got back at around 8pm, I was met with the news that he was dead. I rushed into the room and told the doctor he was still breathing, but he told me it was just the machines,” Mikal said.
Police implicated
The family alleged that Imbukwa had confided in them during the rush at the hospital, claiming that the police had beaten him.
“Those who did this will have to pay. They have to face justice,” Mikal added.
LSK president Charles Kanjama said the circumstances surrounding the death of the advocate and demanded “unequivocal condemnation and immediate action,” urging security agencies to move swiftly to establish what happened.
“Our colleague was assaulted, tortured, and murdered by unknown persons. The circumstances surrounding Tom's death demand our unequivocal condemnation and immediate action,” said Mr Kanjama in a statement.
He urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Police Service (NPS) to establish what happened and bring those responsible to justice.
“We call upon the National Police Service and the DCI to conduct swift, effective, and credible investigations,” he said, warning that, “If state actors were involved in this torture and murder, there must be no sanctuary for them.”
According to Patrick Kuya, an uncle to Thomas, the family has requested a thorough investigation, describing the loss as devastating.
“It is sad that a family can educate a child so they can take care of themselves and uplift the family, only for this to happen. This should serve as a stop,” Mr Kuya said.
Ms Nelly Mugambi, the mother of Imbukwa’s 11-year-old daughter, said the death had robbed the girl of a role model and a father. She praised Thomas as a bold and brilliant individual.
“I had never seen such a smart character. The first time I met him while on attachment at Makadara Courts, he had memorised all the laws and would use them with ease. He loved making jokes and had an amazing aura. His daughter will miss him; there is no one for her to turn to now for that emotional support,” Ms Mugambi said.
The family gathered at the Kenyatta National Funeral Home for a postmortem, which proved inconclusive.
“The family has been here together with detectives from the DCI, pathologists, and the homicide department. They noted injuries on the right side of the body, the head, ribs, and abdomen, but the results remain inconclusive. More evidence must be collected before a final conclusion is reached,” said the family lawyer, Njanja Maina.
