Mystery over the death of a KNH doctor found dead in her car

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 14 – Before her untimely death which police are now investigating as a possible suicide case, Lydia Wahura, a pediatrician at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has been described by colleagues as a brilliant medical professional and a top performing student.

Wahura, was pursuing her Masters in medicine at the University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences domiciled at KNH.

On the fateful day, this past Saturday, the astute pediatrician was seen reporting at her usual lecture hall, a fact corroborated by her Prof James Machoki who told Shahidi News, “she arrived in college at around 9am and registered for her classes.”

A few minutes later, Wahura was seen leaving the lecture hall under unclear circumstances as she headed to her vehicle and at around 9:30am, her contemporaries found her dead inside her car after being concerned about her well-being.

Detectives attached at the Kilimani Police Station are probing the matter, keen to establish what drove the deceased to allegedly end her life.

Though a postmortem examination is yet to be conducted, forensic detectives at the scene of crime recovered two bottles of drugs labelled: ketamine and midazolam alongside syringes.

Ketamine is primarily used for starting and maintaining anesthesia.

“We are waiting for the lab outcome of the contents of the two bottles found in the car together with a syringe which will inform the next step by the investigators as far as the case is concerned,” Kilimani Deputy police boss Millicent Ngugi told Shahidi News.

A toxicology report by the government chemist will also establish whether the two contents were self administered.

Also recovered by police at the scene of crime besides the deceased’s body was an alleged suicide note.

Police however did not reveal its content saying it was a crucial evidence that will assist investigators in establishing what happened.

Wahura’s colleagues said that prior to her death, she had exhibited, social issues which might have driven her to commit the unthinkable.

The body is being preserved at the Chiromo mortuary.

Cases of depression are on the rise in the medical field particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country.