40-Year-Old Dies in Custody
A family in Kuria West, Migori County, is calling for justice following the tragic death of 40-year-old Alan Kamau Kimani while he was in police custody.
On Tuesday, September 30, Hussein Khalid, the Executive Director of Vocal Africa, shared that Kimani was arrested late last week over allegations of illegally cutting down trees and was subsequently held at the Komomwamu Police Post.
Khalid reported that Kimani’s mother, Mary Wambui, received a series of alarming phone calls from officers just before she found out about her son’s death.
“40 years old Alan Kamau Kimani was arrested on Thursday, 25th September for allegedly cutting down trees. He was taken to Komomwamu Police Post in Kuria West, Migori County. Kimani’s mother, Mary Wambui, said she was informed of Kimani’s arrest by a police officer through a phone call and went to see him at the police post,” he said.
Khalid added that Wambui was allegedly pressured for money in order to secure her son’s release and later threatened with dire consequences if she did not get the money.
“She claims she was asked to part with Ksh15,000 to have Kimani released, an amount she didn’t have. The next day Friday, 26th September, Wambui received a call from an officer at the police post who allegedly threatened her with dire consequences if she does not go with the money,” he added.
According to Khalid, it was on the same day when Wambui received a call informing her of her son’s death.
“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,” he further said.
Khalid confirmed that Vocal Africa is already working with oversight bodies, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), to establish the facts.
“These claims have raised a lot of concerns and tension in the area. The family is now calling for the arrest of the police officers involved and justice for their kin.
“Vocal Africa is in touch with the family and Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to undertake the autopsy and commence the process of finding justice for Alan Kamau Kimani,” he concluded.
Just a week after IPOA announced it was looking into the death of Simon Warui, who tragically passed away while in police custody at the Central Police Station in Mombasa, new details have emerged.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 23, IPOA shared that they have received the post-mortem report. This report indicates that Warui died from cardiorespiratory collapse caused by a fracture and dislocation of the neck, injuries that align with a fall from a height.
The oversight body confirmed that their investigation team has already started gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing the police procedures surrounding Warui’s detention.
“IPOA emphasises that safety and rights of individuals placed in police custody are paramount and will work diligently to ensure justice is served,” the statement read.
“We assure the public that IPOA will handle this incident with the seriousness it deserves and further extend condolences to the family of the deceased.
The story began when Warui, a 26-year-old from Umoja estate in Nairobi, mysteriously disappeared from his home on Sunday, September 14.
His family spent several tense days searching for him throughout the city, completely unaware that he had somehow ended up in the coastal region.
Things took a shocking turn when they found out that Warui was being held in police custody in Mombasa.
By the time his relatives made it to the Central Police Station in Mombasa to get him released, they were met with the devastating news that Warui had already died while in custody.
Initially, police claimed that Warui, who was detained on theft charges, had died during an alleged escape attempt.
However, the autopsy revealed a much darker truth: Warui had suffered neck fractures and oxygen deprivation, which were the main causes of his death.
The medical examination also revealed other alarming injuries, including fractures in his arms, wounds on his scalp, spinal hemorrhage, and what looked like ligature marks on his body.
40-Year-Old Dies in Custody
