Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve collapses and dies in Nairobi

“He suddenly collapsed and passed away earlier today. Honourable Munuve was a dedicated leader, a tireless voice of the people, and a passionate presence in the Assembly,” Mr Ng’ondi said.

He added that the county was not only mourning the loss of a colleague but also a brother whose presence and insights enriched the institution and uplifted many.

According to Mr Ng’ondi, the Assembly was not aware of any prior health issues, and the member had appeared to be in good health until his sudden death.

Cause of death

The exact cause of death will be known after an autopsy, he said.

A statement from AAR Hospital clarified that Mr Munuve was not admitted but was pronounced dead on arrival at 10:30 am on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

“The AAR Hospital wishes to clarify that on the morning of Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the hospital received a patient named Hon Joel Munuve Kimanzi (the Kariobangi North MCA), who was pronounced dead on arrival at 10:30 am,” the statement read.

Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, a close associate of Mr Munuve, said the cause of death remained unclear.

He noted that Mr Munuve was on his way to the hospital when he passed away.

“He was picked from home this morning by one of his friends, Peter. He always used his vehicle or one belonging to a friend. On the way to town, he said he was in pain, and that’s how he died in front of the hospital,” Mr Alai said.

Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura, who also serves as County Assemblies Forum (CAF) Secretary General, said the Assembly would take charge of the funeral arrangements as they await the postmortem report.

“We will take full charge of the planning and ensure a funeral that befits his honour in Nairobi County and within our CAF fraternity,” Mr Mwaura said.

MCAs, family members, friends, and residents of Kariobangi flocked to the hospital in disbelief following the announcement of Mr Munuve’s death.

He was serving his first term in the County Assembly as an independent MCA, having been elected in the 2022 general election.

Critic

Mr Munuve was known for his vocal criticism of Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration. He frequently sought answers on various county projects and was at the forefront of demanding transparency.

His death comes shortly after he had requested a statement regarding the operations of Governor Sakaja’s flagship school feeding programme.

In his request to the Health Sectoral Committee, he questioned the transparency surrounding donations from different organisations and the use of the Sh5 paid by each learner for a daily meal.

He also advocated for the transfer of Mama Margaret Kenyatta Hospital back to the national government to function as a satellite facility of Kenyatta National Hospital.

Recently, he wrote letters to President William Ruto, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, and Governor Sakaja, raising concerns about poor services at the hospital.