No poison found in Kayova deaths, tests confirm

The mystery surrounding the deaths of 16 family members in Kayova more than three years ago remains unsolved after forensic tests found no significant toxic substances in the samples examined.

Nelius Becker, head of the National Forensic Science Institute of Namibia (NFSI), confirmed that the toxicological analysis had been completed.

“No compounds of significant toxicological importance were detected in the collected samples,” Becker said.

However, he declined to release the report, saying it forms part of the inquest case file.

“This report is a privileged document forming part of the inquest case file and is not intended for public release,” he said.

Ndiyona constituency councillor Laurentius Mukoya told Namibian Sun last Wednesday that he had not received an update on the results from either the hospital or police.

Mukoya said relatives of the 16 deceased continue to seek answers and frequently approach his office for information.

“The reality from the ground is that I have not received any information on whether they have completed the forensic report,” he said.

Reading the evidence

The Kayova deaths were brought into focus again last week at the Namibia Medical Society’s 2026 Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting in Rundu, where forensic physician and scientist Dr Lawrence Kofi Acheampong warned that toxicology results must be interpreted alongside medical, pathological and investigative evidence.

Acheampong, who presented a paper titled The Toxicology of Crime, said the mere detection of a substance in a person's body does not establish that it caused illness, injury or death.

In the Kayova case, 16 members of the same family died in May 2023 after consuming food reportedly prepared using mahangu and fermented sediment from a homemade beverage.

Preliminary testing at the time reportedly found no man-made poisons in blood and tissue samples collected from the victims, while food samples were separately taken for forensic analysis.

The victims reportedly suffered symptoms including vomiting brownish gastric contents, seizures, repeated episodes of low blood sugar, loss of consciousness and restlessness.

Rundu Hospital superintendent Dr Jean Kabangu said at the time that the victims had died from kidney and liver failure, although the underlying cause of the organ failure remained subject to further investigation.

Acheampong said forensic toxicology investigations should not begin and end in the laboratory, but should follow the entire chain of evidence from the scene.

Investigators, he said, should consider substances ranging from pesticides, medicines, solvents and fuels to illicit drugs and other chemicals.

They should also document containers, labels, powders, tablets, syringes, plants, chemicals and unusual odours found at the scene, while establishing who had access to potential substances and documenting the symptoms experienced by victims.

“The investigation then moves through specimen collection, laboratory analysis, interpretation and courtroom communication,” he said, warning that each stage carries risks of contamination, loss of evidence or misinterpretation.

Clues beyond the lab

He further cautioned that postmortem toxicology has additional challenges because concentrations of substances can change after death and decomposition can affect the presence and quality of specimens.

The Kayova case, he said, illustrates why forensic investigations can take time and why laboratory findings must be considered alongside the broader circumstances surrounding a death.

Acheampong also called for stronger forensic toxicology capacity in Africa, proposing a four-tier system ranging from basic laboratory capabilities to advanced and reference-level services.

He advocated for regional networks to support specialised testing, training, proficiency testing, reference materials and the exchange of expertise.

Namibian Sun has approached Becker for further details on the Kayova investigation, including whether all outstanding forensic work has been completed and when the findings can be made available.

Becker requested that the questions be emailed to him but had not responded by the time of going to print.