Doctor reveals chain of deadly complications that led to Karangu’s brother dying in ICU
By Steve Ireri, August 7, 2026A doctor who was part of the medical team that attended to the late Joshua Muraya Kagema has broken down the devastating chain of health complications that ultimately claimed the younger brother of philanthropist and content creator Karangu Muraya, despite efforts to save his life.
Speaking during a burial meeting held at Blue Springs Hotel on Friday, August 7, 2026, the doctor explained that Kagema’s condition rapidly deteriorated after he developed several life-threatening complications that doctors described as extremely difficult to reverse.
According to the medic, the late Kagema was initially battling cholesterol-related complications, which significantly affected blood circulation to his brain.
“What are the complications of cholesterol? One, the oxygen was not going to the head. The heart has its own supply of blood, so at least that was working,” he said.
He explained that although the heart continued receiving enough blood to function, the oxygen supply to the brain had been compromised, triggering a series of other medical emergencies.
The doctor said the reduced oxygen supply eventually caused Kagema to develop hypertension, further worsening his already critical condition.
He explained that after collapsing, Kagema accidentally swallowed secretions, leading to another serious complication before doctors could fully stabilise him.
According to the medic, the incident caused him to develop pneumonia while undergoing treatment.
“But his head was not working. And that made him develop high blood pressure. High blood pressure. So when he fainted, he swallowed some secretions and that makes someone get pneumonia,” the doctor explained.
The doctor disclosed that by the time Kagema arrived at Kenyatta National Hospital, doctors were still carrying out medical examinations when another dangerous complication emerged.
He said the late Kagema subsequently developed meningitis, leaving doctors battling three major conditions simultaneously.
“So when he was taken to Kenyatta, before they could do the tests, he had developed another complication of meningitis. So he had immediately developed cholesterol, hypertension and meningitis,” he said.
The medic said the combination of cholesterol-related complications, hypertension and meningitis placed Kagema in an irreversible medical condition despite being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where specialists continued fighting to save his life.
“Those three things we cannot avoid even as doctors. Sometimes when someone reaches that level, doctors say it is irreversible. He was taken to ICU and he died,” he added.
The doctor also opened up about his personal connection with the family, revealing that he had not initially known Karangu Muraya or other close relatives while treating Kagema.
Instead, he said he had only known Kagema’s uncle, Bishop Beaver, who had been following up on the patient’s condition during treatment.
According to the doctor, after Kagema succumbed, he deliberately delayed informing Karangu Muraya immediately because he feared the news could reach him while he was driving or at a moment when it could cause another tragedy.
“And before this, even when I was dealing with the patient, I never knew Karangu or even this lady. I knew the uncle, the Bishop of Beaver. And so when he died, the news was shared with me, but I did not tell Karangu immediately because I feared that he was driving or his wife was in the kitchen and she could burn herself,” he said.