NAIROBI, KENYA – An inquest into the death of British national Katherina Ruwena Mitchell, a senior project manager for BBC Media Action, formally commenced on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Kibera Law Courts. The proceedings aim to establish the circumstances surrounding her death on Friday, November 19, 2021, an incident that has left her family demanding answers and scrutinizing the official investigation.

Ms. Mitchell, 42, known as Kate, was found deceased in her eighth-floor room at the Ibis Styles Hotel in Westlands, Nairobi. Initial reports from Nairobi police indicated she had suffered fatal injuries, including a stab wound to her neck and bruises. A subsequent post-mortem examination conducted in the United Kingdom confirmed the cause of death as blunt head injury and pressure on her neck.

The body of a Kenyan man, identified as Henry Tamati Mauti, 29, was discovered on the first-floor exterior of the hotel, directly below the window of Ms. Mitchell's room. At the time, Nairobi region police commander Augustine Nthumbi stated that investigators were treating the case as a potential murder-suicide, suggesting Mauti may have killed Ms. Mitchell before jumping from the window. Reports from officials indicated that Mauti was known to Ms. Mitchell and had been acting as her local contact or 'fixer'.

Scrutiny on Investigation as Family Seeks Answers

The case has been marked by persistent questions from Ms. Mitchell's family regarding the thoroughness of the investigation by Kenyan authorities. Her brother, Pete Mitchell, has publicly voiced frustration, claiming the family has faced obstacles in obtaining information and that the Kenyan police have "stonewalled any inquiries." He stated that key personal effects, including his sister's laptop and phone, have not been returned. This lack of progress prompted the family to instruct a lawyer to push for the inquest in Nairobi.

A UK inquest held in Newcastle in February 2025 concluded that Ms. Mitchell was "unlawfully killed." However, the British coroner, Karin Welsh, noted the limited information provided by Kenyan authorities, stating, "That's the totality of the information we have been able to glean from Nairobi."

A Dedicated Development Professional

Katherina Mitchell was a veteran employee of BBC Media Action, the BBC's international development charity, having worked with the organization for 14 years. Her role as a Senior Project Manager saw her work in numerous countries, including Zambia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Her work focused on media development, health communication, and empowering communities through information.

Colleagues and family described her as deeply committed to her work. At the time of her death, she had been temporarily redeployed to Nairobi from Addis Ababa as a security precaution due to the escalating conflict in Ethiopia. Her brother emphasized that her death was not related to her work but was a tragic act of violence against a woman.

BBC Media Action in Kenya

BBC Media Action has a history of engagement in Kenya, focusing on using media to foster dialogue on critical national issues. A notable past project was "Sema Kenya" ("Kenya Speaks"), a national TV and radio discussion show produced in partnership with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). The program, which ran from 2012 to 2014, provided a platform for citizens to debate topics like public security, unemployment, and governance with political leaders, reaching millions of Kenyans. The organization's work aims to inform, connect, and empower people, often in partnership with local media and humanitarian agencies.

The inquest at the Kibera Law Courts is expected to hear testimony from hotel staff and review evidence gathered by police. The proceedings represent a critical step for a family that has waited years for a formal examination of the evidence within the Kenyan judicial system. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.