The family of renowned author Ken Walibora says it is yet to get closure regarding his death five years ago. Prof Walibora’s widow, Anne, says little has come by way of revealing the circumstances that led to his death.
“Five years have passed and we still haven’t (had) a conclusion to the circumstances leading to our loved one’s death,” she told Nation.Africa on Wednesday.
“The family would hope to get closure on this matter as we continue to cherish the sweet memories we had together.”
Members of the late Ken Walibora's family stand next to his grave at his home in Makutano kwa Ngozi (Bonde) village, Cherangany in Trans-Nzoia County on April 08, 2021.
Photo credit: Jared | Nyataya | Nation Media Group
The morning of April 10, 2020 marked a turning point in the life of Prof Walibora, whose Kiswahili literary works have been studied by millions in Kenya and who had become a household name.
Known as he was, studied as he was, he was knocked over by a vehicle on Nairobi’ Landhies Road and reached the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) that morning at 9.53 am in an ambulance without any identification details on him. He was identified as an unknown African man.
With most of the medical interventions failing, he would be pronounced dead at 1.10 am that night. He was 56.
In an “in loving memory” notice placed in the Nation on Thursday, the theme of seeking answers was replicated.
“Someday, someone will demystify his inexplicably agonising demise,” said the notice. “But today we remember our Mjomba, a father and husband, a loyal friend. We remember his humility, his unique blend of wit, charm and indomitable faith.”
The notice further read: “Though rich memories are not substitute enough for the boom of his infectious laughter or the wealth of his tale, they are all we have till the dawn of Siku Njema.”
National Police Service Spokesman Michael Muchiri told Nation.Africa on Friday, April 11 that the matter was taken over by the homicide investigations arm of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). We did not immediately get an update from the DCI on the progress.
A report that KNH presented to the Senate said he was in bad shape when he reached the hospital. His mouth was full of blood as he had lost the upper and lower incisor teeth.
He also had massive injuries on his head and wounds on his elbows. His right palm was also injured and tendons were exposed. The hospital inferred that this was “polytrauma secondary to a road traffic accident”, basically meaning he had sustained multiple severe injuries after being knocked down on the road.
He was convulsing by 10am and had to be put on oxygen. By 4pm, the hospital said, the oxygen levels in his body dropped despite him being on supplementary oxygen. This necessitated resuscitation. There was another resuscitation at 8pm. At 12.10am, he had a heart attack and resuscitation started.
“After 30 minutes of active CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), he was noted not to have any cardiopulmonary activity and was certified dead at 1.10am. On April 15, 2020, he was fingerprinted and identified as Kennedy Wafula Waliaulaa,” the hospital’s report said.
It added: “Post-mortem carried out on April 17, 2020 concluded that the patient died of severe head injury secondary to blunt trauma to the head.”
Initial reports put KNH on the spot for not attending to Prof Walibora with the urgency his case deserved. The Senate’s Standing Committee on Health carried out an investigation and tabled it in March 2021.
After interrogating KNH, the committee chaired by Dr Michael Malinga Mbito (who was the Trans Nzoia Senator) observed that Prof Walibora “received the necessary life-saving medical emergency interventions following his admission at the Kenyatta National Hospital”.
“He was admitted as an unknown African male and remained unidentified up to at least three days after his death owing to lack of identification documents. As with accident victims with private insurance but who lack their identification documents, had his identity been known, he may have received a timely transfer to alternative private health facilities,” the committee noted.
It added that while the alleged negligence of Prof Walibora could not be proved, many accident victims die “from lack of receiving timely life-saving medical interventions”.
How did Prof Walibora end up on Landhies Road, right next to the “Country Bus” stage, that Friday morning? How come he had no identification documents on him? What happened to the driver of the bus that knocked him down? Did he have stab wounds or all his injuries were a result of a traffic accident? Those are among the unsolved questions that surround his demise.
The late Ken Walibora.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Meanwhile, steps towards immortalising Prof Walibora continue to gather pace, with the latest being the establishment of the Ken Walibora Corner at the Kitale Museum Library, overseen by Kibabii University and the County Government of Trans Nzoia. The corner, which was launched on March 19, has more than 90 books and newspaper articles authored by Prof Walibora.
As that unfolds, his family keeps penning heartfelt tributes in his memory. Another instance was a notice in the Nation in 2021 to mark the first anniversary of his death. It was filled with poetic language while also pushing for answers.
“These are our questions, our qualms, and our quest; for justice to be seen to be served; for death’s cruel grip to be undone; and God’s will on earth be done,” the notice said in part.
