The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has released fresh details regarding the investigation into the death of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Legal Services Manager Esther Wairimu Keige, whose body was recovered in a coffee plantation in Juja, Kiambu County, nearly a month after she was reported missing.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the DCI said Ms Keige disappeared on June 10, 2026, after her driver dropped her at a Shell petrol station near Senate Hotel in Juja, where she had reportedly planned to make inquiries about gym services. Investigators said the driver remained at the location, but Ms Keige never returned.
The agency disclosed that detectives immediately launched an extensive search involving forensic experts, intelligence officers and partner security agencies. The investigation included analysis of CCTV footage, witness interviews, mobile phone data and ground searches across several locations in Kiambu County.
According to the DCI, search teams combed areas including Kenyatta Road, Gatundu, Darugo, Mang’u, the Murram area and Stage 4, while hospitals and mortuaries were also visited in efforts to trace the missing official.
Investigators further established that Ms Keige had been undergoing treatment for depression and had previously disappeared from home on three separate occasions before returning safely. The DCI presented this as part of the background gathered during investigations and has not linked it to the cause of her death.
The breakthrough came on July 6, when the decomposed body of an unidentified woman was discovered inside a makeshift shelter in a bushy section of Fusion Estate Farm in the Kiaora area of Juja, about seven kilometres from Juja Police Station.
Senior detectives and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers processed the scene before the body was moved to the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital Funeral Home. Ms Keige’s sister later positively identified the body.
Police said Ms Keige’s mobile phone was recovered intact but switched off at the scene, while her shoes had been removed and placed beside the body.
A post-mortem examination found no external physical injuries suggestive of assault. However, due to the advanced state of decomposition, pathologists were unable to conclusively determine the cause of death.
The DCI said toxicological tests and other forensic analyses are now underway to establish both the cause and manner of death.
Despite the preliminary findings, detectives emphasized that homicide has not been ruled out, adding that investigations remain active and all possible lines of inquiry are being pursued pending the outcome of forensic examinations.
The agency appealed to members of the public who may have information regarding Ms Keige’s movements between June 10 and July 6 to report to the nearest police station or contact the DCI through its toll-free hotline or official WhatsApp channel.
The DCI also conveyed its condolences to Ms Keige’s family, friends and colleagues at the Kenya Forest Service, pledging to conduct a thorough, impartial and evidence-led investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding her death and ensure anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
