A man whose wife died following a cosmetic surgery procedure has told a Nairobi court that the family paid nearly Sh700,000 for a belly-fat removal operation that ended in tragedy.
Testifying before Kibera Principal Magistrate Christine Njagi, Francis Nganga Mundia said his wife, Lucy Wambui Kamau, died from severe complications after undergoing liposuction following a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure at Body by Design.
Mundia told the court that a post-mortem examination revealed the 47-year-old died due to complications arising from what he described as a botched cosmetic surgery.
Nearly Sh700,000 Paid for Procedure, Court Told
The court heard that documentary evidence, including payment receipts, showed the deceased paid Sh693,000 for the cosmetic procedure intended to remove fat from her abdomen.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Directors of Public Prosecutions MaryAnn Mwangi and Duncan Ondimu.
Those charged include Dr. Robert Maweu Mutula, alongside clinic directors George Wakaria Njoroge and Lilian Edna Wanjiru Mwariri, all of whom have denied the charges.
The three are accused of causing Wambui’s death on October 16, 2024, at Omnicare Medical Limited, which traded as Body by Design, along Kabarsiran Avenue in Nairobi County.
Deterioration After Surgery and Alleged Early Discharge
Mundia testified that his wife’s condition worsened after the surgery, but she was allegedly discharged from the clinic before full recovery and without clearing an outstanding medical bill.
He further told the court that the clinic abruptly closed immediately after her discharge, a move that raised serious concerns for the family.
According to his testimony, Wambui had first come across advertisements by Body by Design on October 10, 2024, which aggressively promoted cosmetic and surgical procedures. She later informed him of her decision to undergo surgery, a move he said he opposed for nearly three weeks.
Final Hours and Death
Mundia told the court that when he visited his wife on October 17, 2024, a day after the procedure, she was in visible distress and complained of severe pain and breathing difficulty.
Despite assurances from medical staff that her condition was normal, he said her health continued to decline. On October 22, 2024, she was discharged at around 4:30 p.m., despite not having fully recovered.
Within minutes of arriving home, her condition worsened. Attempts to return her to the clinic failed because the facility had already been closed. The family rushed her to Nairobi Hospital.
Mundia emotionally recalled receiving a phone call from his wife on October 23, 2024, during which she asked him to pray for her, saying she feared she might die.
She later passed away on October 26, 2024. Mundia reported the matter at Muthangari Police Station, prompting investigations and the current criminal proceedings.
The hearing continues.