Choked on bhang, died in custody
The National Police Service (NPS) is facing scrutiny once again after yet another man has died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody.
In a statement released on Saturday, October 11, Hussein Khalid, the Executive Director of Vocal Africa, revealed that 30-year-old Paul Njuguna passed away at the Kiganjo Police Station.
Khalid mentioned that Njuguna was taken into custody on Thursday, October 9, for allegedly possessing bhang.
“Paul Njuguna, a 30-year-old man from Gatundu South, lost his life while in the custody of police from Kiganjo Police Station. Paul Njuguna was arrested on 9th October on claims of being in possession of bhang,” read the statement in part.
The Executive Director of Vocal Africa shared that witnesses reported seeing police officers assaulting him.
The officers stated that Njuguna passed away after swallowing the bhang, which had been wrapped in a paper bag.
“Witnesses claim they saw police beating him up, but police say he died as a result of swallowing the bhang, which was wrapped in a paper bag. Paul Njuguna had no wife or children,” Khalid added.
The tragic incident occurred just days after 40-year-old Eric Tonui Koros, a boda boda rider from Solai in Nakuru County, lost his life while in custody at the Solai ACC Police Post.
Koros was arrested on Tuesday, October 7, around 2:30 PM for failing to pay a debt of KSh8,000. Later that same day, around 8 PM, police officers visited his family to deliver the heartbreaking news of his death.
He leaves behind a wife and five children, and his body is currently being held at Kwa Jack Mortuary in Nakuru.
In a similar case, on September 30, another 40-year-old man, Alan Kamau Kimani, also died under suspicious circumstances while in custody in Migori County. Kimani had been arrested a week earlier for allegedly cutting down trees and was being held at the Komomwamu Police Post.
His mother, Mary Wambui, reported receiving a series of distressing calls from officers just before she learned of her son’s death. According to Khalid, Wambui was reportedly pressured for money to secure her son’s release and was even threatened with severe consequences if she didn’t pay up.
On the same day, she received a call from the police breaking the devastating news of her son’s passing.
“A few hours later on the same Friday, she received another call from the same officer, this time informing her of her son’s death. Wambui says police told her that Kimani committed suicide while in custody,” Khalid stated.
Choked on bhang, died in custody
