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Tag: Lucy Wambui

  • Body by Design: A timeline of events surrounding Lucy Wambui’s death

    Body by Design: A timeline of events surrounding Lucy Wambui’s death

    On Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) Renson Ingonga approved manslaughter charges against ‘Body by Design’ Clinic proprietors following the death of Lucy Wambui Kamau.

    The 47-year old woman died on October 26, 2024, due to complications, just days after undergoing cosmetic surgery at the facility.

    The four suspects, Robert Maweu Mutula, a surgeon, George Wakaria Njoroge, Lilian Edna Wanjiru, the proprietor of Body by Design and the Body by Design hospital, are set to take a plea on Wednesday.

    As the case makes headlines, months after Ms Kamau’s death, here is a timeline of the events that led up to the closure of several unlicensed cosmetic clinics and the manslaughter charges brought against the four.

    Timeline of events

    • The saga began on October 16, 2024, when Lucy Wambui underwent a liposuction procedure at Body by Design, a cosmetic surgery clinic operated by Omnicare Medical in Nairobi, as recorded in court documents.
    • She was discharged from the clinic on October 18. A few days later, the surgery quickly took a dark turn, as Wambui began experiencing severe abdominal pain and breathing difficulties.
    • She was returned to the clinic on October 22, and despite her deteriorating condition, the clinic discharged her on the same day.

    Barely able to withstand the pain, later in the day, Wambui sought emergency treatment at Nairobi Hospital. Medical professionals at the facility reported multiple perforations in her intestines. They, however, fought to stabilise her, but their efforts were in vain.

    • On October 26, 2024, 47-year-old Lucy Wambui Kamau succumbed to complications from the surgery, leaving behind a devastated family and sparking national outcry.
    • In the wake of her death and following public outcry, the Ministry of Health intervened, ordering the immediate closure of Body by Design on October 31, 2024.
    • However, Omnicare Medical challenged the closure in court on November 1 through lawyer Danstan Omari, arguing that no conclusive evidence had linked the clinic to Wambui’s demise.
    • On November 4, in a statement to KBC Digital, Prof. Ferdinand Nangole, President of the Kenya Society of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons (KSPRAS) assured the public that there were qualified professionals operating in Kenya following rigorous safety protocols. KSPRAS further encouraged Kenyans to verify practitioners’ certifications through the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB).
    • Following Omnicare’s filing on November 1, the High Court certified the case as urgent on November 5, 2024, directing all involved parties to file their responses within seven days.

    As the legal battle unfolded, Wambui was laid to rest on the same day at her home in Redhill, Kiambu County. Family members and friends gathered to bid farewell, calling for justice and demanding stricter regulation of cosmetic surgery clinics to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

    • A day later, on November 6, the case also prompted the Ministry of Health to launch a 30-day nationwide crackdown on unlicensed medical spas and cosmetic surgery clinics.

    In a statement released to the media, Principal Secretary, Mary Muthoni, expressed concern over Ms Wambui’s death, noting that investigations by the Kenya Medical and Pharmacists Dentists Council (KMPDC) had revealed serious malpractices and non-compliance with health standards.

    • On February 7, 2025, the Ministry of Health, through PS Mary Muthoni, directed the closure of several establishments operating without proper licenses, aiming to protect Kenyans from unregulated and unsafe medical practices.
    • After months of investigations and public outcry, the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) Renson Ingonga approved manslaughter charges against ‘Body by Design’ Clinic proprietors following the death of Lucy Wambui on April 1.
    • The four suspects involved in Lucy Wambui’s surgery are charged in court on April 2, 2025.

     

  • 126 spas, 34 plastic surgery centers to undergo assessment

    126 spas, 34 plastic surgery centers to undergo assessment

    At least 126 beauty and medical spas along with 34 plastic surgery centers, are set to undergo a thorough assessment to ensure they meet the required standards for safe and high-quality care.

    In a statement, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said PS said a joint team of health regulators led by the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA) has identified the facilities in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret and Mombasa which are scheduled for a thorough assessment.

    The PS noted that a joint team of health regulators, led by the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority, will verify whether those establishments adhere to safety protocols and are staffed by qualified professionals.

    The State Department has reiterated its dedication to ensuring Kenyans have access to safe, high-quality healthcare provided by qualified professionals in licensed facilities.

    The PS warned that those found to be non-compliant risk penalties including possible closure and legal action.

    “These inspections will check that the facilities are following safety guidelines, ethical practices, and that they are staffed by qualified professionals. Facilities that fail to meet these standards will face strict penalties, including possible closure and legal action” Muthoni warned.

    Additionally, she urged the public to remain vigilant when seeking medical services to avoid falling into the hands of quacks.

    “The State Department reminds all healthcare providers to strictly follow health regulations, prioritize patient safety, and uphold ethical practices. We also urge the public to be cautious and to only seek services at licensed facilities staffed by certified professionals for any medical or cosmetic procedures”

    On November 6, the ministry ordered a nationwide assessment of clinics offering plastic surgery procedures to ensure compliance with health standards and patient safety.

    This followed the death of Lucy Wambui Ng’ang’a, following a botched plastic surgery procedure at the Body by Design clinic.

    KHPOA has been tasked with coordinating the assessment and submitting a comprehensive report within 30 days.

  • Botched plastic surgery: Assessment of all facilities gets underway

    Botched plastic surgery: Assessment of all facilities gets underway

    A nationwide assessment of clinics offering plastic surgery procedures is underway to ensure compliance with health standards and patient safety.

    The crackdown follows the tragic death of Lucy Wambui, a well-known Instagram influencer who succumbed to severe complications after undergoing a cosmetic procedure at a Nairobi clinic, Omnicare, operating under the name Body By Design.

    The Ministry of Health has since shut down the clinic over alleged serious malpractices and non-compliance with health regulations, following an investigation by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).

    Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni confirmed the facility was operating below the required medical standards and failed to meet essential patient safety regulations, endangering the health and well-being of its patients.

    Consequently, the PS, in a letter dated November 5, has directed all health regulatory agencies to conduct a thorough assessment of similar clinics to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future

    The Kenya Health Professional Oversight Authority (KHPOA) has been tasked with coordinating the assessment and submitting a comprehensive report within 30 days.

    “The Ministry of Health expresses concern over the incident and underscores the serious malpractices and non-compliance with health standards identified at Omnicare Medical Limited, based on the investigation by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC),” said Muthoni.

    Wambui was laid to rest at her home in Redhill, Kiambu County on Tuesday.

    Friends, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko who attended the burial, condemned the negligence that led to her tragic demise.

    Meanwhile, a petition to stop the closure of the clinic was denied by a Nairobi court.

  • Ominicare Medical shut down for non-compliance following fatal surgery

    Ominicare Medical shut down for non-compliance following fatal surgery

    Ominicare Medical Limited, operating as “Body by Design” in Nairobi, has been shut down by the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards following the tragic death of Lucy Wambui after a plastic surgery procedure at the facility.

    Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the closure was prompted by a Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) investigation, which revealed serious non-compliance with medical regulations under Sections 4 and 15 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act (Cap 253).

    According to Muthoni, the facility was operating below the required medical standards and failed to meet essential patient safety regulations, endangering the health and well-being of its patients.

    The department emphasized that the immediate closure is necessary to protect public safety, pending corrective measures to bring the facility into compliance with patient safety standards.

    Muthoni added that an in-depth investigation is currently underway into both the institution and the medical staff involved in Wambui’s treatment, with a focus on determining culpability and preventing future incidents of malpractice.

    PS Muthoni reaffirmed the State Department’s commitment to maintaining high healthcare standards across Kenya, adding that further updates on the investigation would be shared as they become available.