Autopsy reveals how 20-year-old Wanjiru died

Wanjiru Ng’ang’a died from asphyxiation (state of being deprived of oxygen) a post-mortem report has revealed. The autopsy also showed that she had marks on her neck, suggesting she was strangled to death.

As Ng’ang’a Mutonga, Wanjiru’s father, walked out of the autopsy room at Nyahururu County Referral Hospital on Tuesday, his face was filled with shock and disbelief.

His trembling hands clutched a black polythene bag—a grim token handed to him by a morgue attendant. His heart shattered as the reality hit: his 20-year-old daughter, Ciru, was gone.

Summoning all his strength, Mr. Ng’ang’a spoke to the media in a low tone, recounting the last conversation he had with his daughter on the morning of April 17, a few hours before her demise. 

“During that morning phone call conversation, she was so happy. She told me how she had perfected her skills in her mechanical course and asked me to buy her a toolbox because she dreamed of opening her own garage,” he recalls.

Mr. Ng’anga’ describes his daughter as a go-getter who never shied away from a challenge.

“She completed her KCSE in 2023 and wanted to join the Kenya Defence Forces, but because of a problem with one of her legs, she missed the chance. She then helped her mother run the family business in Subukia before joining a private garage in January 2025 for a mechanical course. She had been studying there for four months,” he says.

He adds, “Death has robbed me of a humble and dedicated child. She loved technical work. I plead with the police to conduct a speedy investigation and bring those responsible for her death to justice.”

Ciru’s body was found in a bush, a kilometre from their home, on the morning of April 18. Her mother had gone out to search for her after she didn’t return the previous night.

Subukia Subcounty Police Commander Samuel Kinoti confirmed that the case had been handed over to forensic experts for further investigation, and they are still awaiting feedback.