The family of former High Court judge Joseph Mutava Mbalu, who died on Saturday in unclear circumstances after a night out with friends, is seeking to establish whether he might have been poisoned as fresh details of his final moments emerged.

Mr Mutava’s wife, Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu, said medics had begun conducting a toxicology test after a postmortem examination identified a heart attack as the cause of his death.

“We did a postmortem examination on Monday. The report says he suffered a heart attack. I have gone ahead to ask for a toxicology test just to find closure,” the MP told visiting colleagues on Tuesday.

She announced Friday, September 4,2026, as the date of her husband’s burial, setting off intensified preparations at his rural home in Kithasyu Village, Makueni County.

Mr Justice Joseph Mutava. — Justice Joseph Mutava.

Photo credit: File

Mr Mutava had been in high spirits as he watched Arsenal Football Club beat Coventry City 3-0 at Reyfee, a popular bar on the outskirts of Kibwezi Township, Makueni County, until early Saturday when a designated driver took him home.

The previous day, he had visited a bereaved family in the neighbourhood after travelling to the countryside from Nairobi.

“Justice walked himself from the car to the sitting room. He became seriously sick afterwards,” a relative of Mr Mutava told the Nation in confidence, saying he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the family.

At Othofix Hospital in Makindu Township where relatives frantically rushed him, medics declared him dead on arrival. His body was later taken to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi.

The sudden death marked the end of a career that rose rapidly before being overshadowed by controversy.

The soft-spoken lawyer, who was 57 at the time of his death, shot to prominence after he was removed from the Judiciary over a case involving Goldenberg scandal mastermind Kamlesh Pattni.

In March this year, he was once again caught up in bribery allegations involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s legal battles to save his property.

Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who taught Mr Mutava law at the University of Nairobi, paid glowing tribute to his former student.

“He was brilliant, disciplined, sharp and deeply respectful. Makueni County has lost a top brain,” Prof Kibwana said in a statement.

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