Burial of late Kariobangi North MCA Munuve set for May 9 in Kitui
The burial of the late Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve Kimanzi has been scheduled for Friday, May 9, 2025, at his family home in Mwingi, Kitui County, the family has announced.
Speaking on May 6, 2025, Family representative Joel Manandu confirmed the burial date, stating that all necessary arrangements were in place.
He also noted that the family had accepted the outcome of the post-mortem and was at peace with the circumstances surrounding Munuve’s death.
“The burial of Hon. Joel Munuve Kimanzi will be on May 9 as planned. We have made all necessary preparations, and most of them are already complete. We received the post-mortem results, accepted them, and were fully satisfied, led by Rachel, his mother. As a family, we have accepted God’s will,” Manandu said.
The pastor of Munuve’s local church, Joseph Mathu, also confirmed the church’s readiness to lead the burial service.
“As the pastor of that church, I can confirm we are ready for the service, which will take place on May 9. As a church, we have made all preparations,” he said.
Post-mortem findings
A post-mortem examination conducted on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Lee Funeral Home revealed that Munuve died from a pulmonary embolism caused by a severe blockage of oxygen flow.
Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor, who led the forensic team, said the late MCA suffered a fatal blood clot that obstructed the pulmonary artery, responsible for transporting blood from the heart to the lungs.
“When we examined the body, the darkened lips and nails were clear indicators that the MCA was not receiving enough oxygen at the time of death,” Oduor explained.
The clot, which was traced to the left popliteal vein behind the knee, had migrated to the lungs and caused a critical obstruction. Multiple clots were found in the region, confirming the origin of the embolism.
“The autopsy revealed that the clot originated from the left popliteal vein, located behind the knee, where multiple clots were found,” Oduor stated.
The report also noted that the clot had been present for some time, with some clots showing signs of long-term formation.
The pathologists found no signs of foul play, ruling the death as medically induced.
They also noted the presence of scarring in Munuve’s right lung, possibly from a prior condition, as well as a benign lipoma in the neck.
The examination also uncovered a large clot in the pulmonary trunk, which had formed over time and further compromised blood flow to the lungs.
Munuve passed away at a hospital in Kiambu on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Tributes
Munuve’s cousin, Sylvester Jeremiah, while remembering him, described the fallen legislator as a symbol of hope with a bright future ahead of him.
“We had a lot of hope in him. We believed he had a bright star and was a good role model to our family and the entire Zeluni division and Migwani sub-county. He was a good leader, a pure-hearted man, and someone who loved doing good. As a family, we have suffered a major loss,” Jeremiah said.
Kitui Nominated MCA Jacinter Mwoni also paid tribute to Munuve, remembering him as a dedicated Wiper Party member and a close friend.
“For us in Wiper, Joel Munuve was one of us—part of the Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (SKM) team. As Jacinter, he was my colleague and a very close friend. As people from Kitui and Mwingi West, we have suffered a great loss. My condolences to the family,” Mwoni stated.
