A requiem mass for Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve is underway at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, as mourners gather to honour the late politician ahead of his Friday burial in Mwingi, Kitui County.

Among those paying tribute are Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Nairobi County MCAs, county staff, friends and family, all united in grief and remembrance.

Kennedy Okeyo Ng’ondi, Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly eulogized him as a good debator.

“Let people do their work. Munuve was an MCA among 124 members but he debated with an independent mind,” said Ng’ondi.

Munuve died on April 22 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Kiambu.

Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor, who led the postmortem, confirmed Munuve succumbed to a pulmonary embolism — a fatal blood clot that blocked the artery carrying blood from the heart to the lungs.

“When we examined the body, the darkened lips and nails were clear indicators the MCA was not receiving enough oxygen at the time of death,” said Oduor.

The clot originated in the left popliteal vein behind Munuve’s knee, travelling to his lungs where it caused a severe blockage.

Multiple clots were discovered in the same region, some believed to have developed over time.

Oduor ruled out foul play, confirming Munuve died of natural medical causes.

He also noted scarring in Munuve’s right lung, possibly from a past illness, and a benign lipoma in the neck.

A large clot in the pulmonary trunk further restricted blood flow, worsening the condition.