Kenya Forest senior manager Esther Wairimu’s death: What we know so far
By David Nthua, July 9, 2026The death of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Legal Services Manager Esther Wairimu Keige has raised fresh questions after she was found dead nearly a month after she disappeared.
As of Thursday, July 9, 2026, Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, while the cause of death has not yet been established.
Here is what is known so far.
She disappeared on June 10
Keige, a 54-year-old advocate and KFS Legal Services Manager, was last seen on June 10, 2026, after leaving her office along Kiambu Road. Her disappearance prompted concern among her family, colleagues and the legal fraternity.
KFS appealed for public help
On June 15, KFS issued a public appeal asking anyone with information about Keige’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact the agency through the emergency numbers provided.
The agency described her as its Manager of Legal Services and urged the public to assist in efforts to locate her safely.
LSK joined the search
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) later confirmed Keige was one of its members and appealed to advocates and the public to help trace her.
LSK President Charles Kanjama said every piece of information could prove critical in locating the missing advocate.
Her body was found
The search ended tragically when Keige’s body was discovered on the night of July 6 in a coffee plantation near Karimenu in Juja, Kiambu County.
Juja Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Kombo confirmed the recovery of the body, which was positively identified by family members before being transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital mortuary.
Family confirmed the death
In a statement shared by the family and later circulated by KFS, the family confirmed that Keige had been found dead after weeks of searching.
The family thanked Kenyans, friends, colleagues and members of the public who supported the search and offered prayers throughout the ordeal.
Autopsy was inconclusive
A post-mortem examination conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor did not establish the cause of death because the body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
Samples were collected for toxicological analysis, with investigators awaiting laboratory results that may help determine how she died.
Investigations continue
Police have continued recording statements from family members and other witnesses as they seek to reconstruct Keige’s movements between her disappearance and the discovery of her body.
Authorities have not announced any arrests or publicly identified suspects. Investigators have also not stated whether foul play has been established.
Calls for justice grow
Keige’s death has prompted calls for a thorough and transparent investigation.
LSK has called for a multi-agency investigation and announced a nationwide Advocates’ March for Justice following the deaths of Keige and advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki.
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) has described the case as a reminder of the country’s continuing violence against women and urged investigators to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has also called for swift, transparent investigations, urging authorities to establish whether Keige’s death was in any way connected to her professional responsibilities.
Former LSK President Faith Odhiambo has similarly demanded that those responsible be identified and subjected to due process.
What remains unknown
Several key questions remain unanswered.
Investigators have not established the cause of Keige’s death, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, or whether her death was linked to her work or any other factor.
Police are awaiting forensic findings as investigations continue, and authorities have urged the public to allow the investigative process to run its course before drawing conclusions.