Esther Wairimu Keige/SCREENGRAB
The family of Esther Wairimu Keige has announced her death with deep sorrow, bringing to a tragic end weeks of uncertainty following her disappearance.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the family confirmed that the 54-year-old advocate and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Legal Services Manager, who had been missing since June 10, was found on the night of July 6.
"It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we, the Keige family, announce the passing of our beloved Esther Wairimu Keige, who went missing on June 10 2026. Following weeks of tireless searching, she was found on the night of July 6, 2026," the family said
The family expressed gratitude to everyone who supported them throughout the search.
"We are deeply grateful to everyone who walked this journey with us-family, friends, colleagues, and members of the public-for your prayers, support, and tireless efforts in the search for our beloved Esther," the statement read.
They described Wairimu as a loving mother and a dedicated advocate whose loss has left an immeasurable void in the lives of those who knew her.
The search for the missing KFS Legal Services Manager ended in tragedy after her body was discovered inside an isolated coffee plantation at Area 4 near Karimenu in Juja, Kiambu County.
Juja Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Kombo confirmed the discovery, saying the body was found in a secluded section of the plantation. Wairimu's brother also confirmed that the family had been informed of the discovery.
Wairimu disappeared after leaving her office along Kiambu Road, sparking an extensive search by her family, colleagues and security agencies. Her disappearance attracted widespread public attention, with appeals circulated across social media and through professional networks in the hope of finding her alive.
Her body was later transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital mortuary, where it will undergo a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death are ongoing.
According to investigators, students at a local school told officers that Wairimu had recently been seen alive near the institution, where she was reportedly asking for help to get food before her body was eventually discovered.
Detectives are now recording statements from family members and other individuals who may have interacted with her in the days leading up to her disappearance as they seek to establish what happened.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the body was intact when it was recovered, although decomposition had already set in, making it difficult for investigators to immediately determine the cause of death.
