Dr Johansen Oduor: Why I Love Spending Time With the Dead
If Johansen Oduor followed his father’s wishes to become a teacher, he would not be the senior government pathologist in Kenya today.
Oduor, who grew up in informal settlements around Nairobi recalls how his father was shocked on learning that he wanted to become a doctor, to help his community.
“The reason I chose to be a doctor is growing up in Eastlands there are a lot of shortages and challenges in healthcare centres. I decided to help the community by being a doctor,” Oduor told NTV on Saturday, adding that he never considered a pathology as a field during his studies.
According to Oduor, there was a lot of stigma in the pathology field.
“By the time I was finishing my university master’s, I didn’t want to do pathology. With pathology, there is a lot of discrimination, you are feared,” voiced Oduor.
In an unexpected move after his graduation, he was posted to the mortuary by the Ministry of Health.
“It was my first time entering a morgue. The smell, I almost failed to go back.”
The chief pathologist recalled that his desire to help people motivated him to return to the morgue.
‘I looked at the people who were coming to the mortuary were people from Kibera, Mathare places I grew up in. So I thought if I don’t help these people who will?”
An appointment to his current position also came as a shock to Oduor. “I didn’t expect to be appointed as Government chief pathologist. It was stressful,” he said.
“Since I had decided to help citizens, like when I had decided to help people when I was posted at City Mortuary, I affirmed that I could do this.”
Speaking to NTV, he stated that there are controversial cases that generate a lot of interest, but has never witnessed a case where a bribe was issued to alter the results of a post-mortem.
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“In a controversial case, since my policy is openness, I tell the relatives to bring their qualified doctor and maybe a relative to oversee the process,” he narrated.
The pathologist noted that by the Criminal Procedure Code, Section 386 a police report is made when a person dies tragically. The police conduct their investigations and go to pathologists to assist in determining the cause of death.
In his career, Oduor terms Rita Waeni’s murder and Shakahola cult deaths as the most difficult cases he has handled.
“This is the first time I have come across such an incident. I have never come across such in my forensic life,” said Oduor on Waeni’s post-modern examination.
On the Shakahola massacre, Oduor said it was difficult due to the scope of work and the level of inhumanity.
“It was hard because of the extent of the work. We were there for quite some time last year. Also the cases of children, it was so inhuman.”
The senior pathologist also shared that he, like everybody else, fears death.
“Everyone fears death. I think about death. Death is unexpected,” he said.
When he is not in a morgue, Oduor is a father of three, who likes to listen to music and watch movies. His favorite jam is Shaggy’s Mr. Bombastic.
Other than his parents, Oduor also considers the late Prof. George Magoha as his hero.
“The late Prof. Magoha was my hero since I was an undergraduate. He looked strict but he was a kind man, ready to assist when needed.”
Dr Johansen Oduor: Why I Love Spending Time With the Dead
