Police arrest woman over death of Dr Job Obwaka

Kenya police have taken a woman into custody as detectives probe the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Job Obwaka, one of the country's most distinguished medical practitioners.

The suspect, aged 45, was apprehended by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations after witnesses placed her near the prominent gynaecologist in the hours leading up to his death. Investigators have not yet formally charged the woman but confirmed she is assisting inquiries as police work to establish whether foul play was involved.

Dr Obwaka served as a director at Nairobi Hospital and spent decades shaping Kenya's reproductive health sector. Nairobi Hospital, one of the country's largest private medical facilities and a key referral centre for East Africa, confirmed his passing but referred further questions to the family and law enforcement.

The DCI, which handles serious criminal investigations across Kenya, has declined to disclose what specific evidence prompted the woman's detention or the precise nature of her connection to the deceased. Under Kenyan law, suspects can be held for up to 24 hours before police must either charge them or seek a court order extending custody.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through Kenya's medical profession, where Dr Obwaka was regarded as a pioneering figure who trained generations of gynaecologists and helped establish obstetric care standards at a time when maternal mortality remained a critical national challenge. Kenya's maternal mortality rate, while declining in recent years, has historically been among the concerns driving investment in specialist training.

Family members have urged the public to allow investigators to conclude their work before drawing conclusions. The DCI has promised a fuller briefing once postmortem results are available.