The ongoing investigation into Body by Design (Omnicare Medical Limited) has taken a harrowing turn as Francis Nganga Mundia, widower of the late Lucy Wambui Nganga, gave chilling testimony about the events that led to his wife’s death following a botched cosmetic procedure.
Lucy Nganga had sought abdominal fat reduction services after seeing an online advertisement promising a drastic transformation from 100kg to 50–60kg. According to her husband, she scheduled the procedure for October 16, 2024, without informing him, and was accompanied by her cousin, Gitau. Crucially, Mr. Mundia alleges that he was never contacted to sign a consent form for the surgery.
The Harrowing Days Following Surgery
On October 17, Mundia visited his wife at the clinic. “She told me she had undergone the operation and was in pain,” he recounted in court. He noted a foul odor and visible holes under her belly, but nursing staff reportedly dismissed his concerns. By October 18, Lucy’s condition had worsened, and despite her cries of pain, Mundia said no medical personnel responded.
On October 20, Lucy reportedly pleaded with her husband, saying she was going to die and asking him to care for their children. Mundia described her as “kneeling, crying in pain, but no one came to help.”
The following day, Mundia was informed that Lucy had been discharged, yet her condition had deteriorated further. When he returned to the clinic, it had been abruptly closed. Inside, he found his wife alive but in critical condition. He immediately called an ambulance that rushed her to Nairobi Hospital, where doctors questioned the source of the stench emanating from her body.
Emergency Surgery Reveals Catastrophic Infection
Lucy was admitted to a general ward and later transferred to the ICU. On October 24, doctors requested Mundia’s consent for emergency surgery. The surgical team discovered approximately 1.5 kilograms of fecal matter had leaked into her abdominal cavity, resulting in a severe and fatal infection.
Lucy succumbed to her injuries on October 26, 2024. Mundia, himself unwell at the time, could not immediately view her body. The case was reported to Muthangari Police Station and is now under investigation by the DCI Homicide Unit, with Mundia providing a formal statement.
“If my wife had undergone a simple piercing, she could have gone to a different hospital,” Mundia lamented. “Why did the directors of Body by Design hire unqualified doctors?”
Questions of Regulation and Accountability
The testimony raises urgent concerns about the regulation of cosmetic clinics, the qualifications of practitioners, and the accountability of those profiting from vulnerable patients seeking aesthetic procedures. As the hearing continues, the public awaits answers that could have far-reaching implications for patient safety and the oversight of private wellness facilities in Kenya.
