The National Police Service (NPS) is on the spot again after another man died under mysterious circumstances in police custody.
In a statement on Saturday, October 11, Vocal Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid said the 30-year-old Paul Njuguna died while in the Kiganjo Police Station.
Khalid noted that Njuguna was arrested on Thursday, October 9, in connection with being in possession of 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 Vocal Africa Executive Director mentioned that witnesses claimed that they had seen police officers beating him up.
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However, the officers reported that Njuguna had died as a result of swallowing the bhang, which was 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 incident comes days after 40-year-old Eric Tonui Koros, a boda boda rider based in Solai, Nakuru county, lost his life while in custody at Solai ACC Police Post.
The boda boda rider was arrested on Tuesday, October 7, at around 2.30 pm for failing to pay a debt of KSh8,000.
Later on, the same day, around 8 pm, police officers visited the family of Koros and informed them of his death.
The deceased left behind a wife and 5 children. His body is being preserved at Kwa Jack mortuary in Nakuru.
On September 30, 40-year-old Alan Kamau Kimani also died under mysterious circumstances while in custody in Migori County.
Kimani was arrested a week before in connection with allegations of cutting down trees before being detained at Komomwamu Police Post.
Kimani's mother, Mary Wambui, says she received a series of troubling calls from officers shortly before learning of her son’s death.
According to Khalid, Wambui was allegedly pressured for money to secure her son’s release and later threatened with dire consequences if she did not get the money.
On the same day, Wambui received a call from the police 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," Khalid stated.
