Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Odour is the name on people's mouths owing to his recent autopsies of marathoner Kevin Kiptum and his coach, plus the death of Senator Bonny Khalwale's employee, among other cases.
He got candid about the nature of his work this past weekend in an interview in Naivasha with NTV Swahili newscaster Fridah Mwaka.
"You know it is very stressful," he said about the nature of the job when asked to describe it.
Adding, "Pathology has so many controversies. Every day there is finger-pointing," Indeed he has faced that in the recent cases he has handled.
"Autopsies have a lot of interest. Kila pande inafikiria kivyake, So you find some abuse you. So when I know there are controversial cases, I usually tell my team, because my principle is openness, we leta daktari wako, ule and I even tell relatives, select one of you saa zingine kuona ni kuamini. to witness, sababu unajua."
Speaking on the Rita Waeni murder autopsy, Johansen told NTV that it was traumatising,
"When you see the CCTV of her walking into a room with the man, then you are brought for the body and told this is the girl who was on the CCTV, it's very painful. Actually, as a human being, because you ask yourself are there such cruel people in this world who do such things."
Even the Shakahola deaths, were cases that left him dumbfounded,
"That was also another very difficult one because of the extent of the work. you know We were there the whole of last year. It was time-consuming then we would discover children in the graves it's also..you feel like it's so inhumane that they were starved to death."
Is he scared of death?
"There is no one who isn't scared of death. Hujui uko kwingien kutakuwa namna gani."
Has he ever thought of his death?
"Mtu hufikiria everyday. You can't say that you have never thought of it. Death comes in many ways."
In spite of career challenges, he is proud of himself. "I have come from far, I am so proud of myself. However, there is much to be done."
His motto? Just be humble.
Benefits of having a better sleep