NPS Responds After Pregnant Woman is Reportedly Thrown Out of Moving Police Vehicle

The National Police Service (NPS) has responded after a pregnant woman was reportedly thrown out of a moving police vehicle.

In a statement on Friday, October 2, the service said it had been notified of the distressing incident, after the body of the woman was discovered by the roadside early Friday morning.

"The National Police Service (NPS) headquarters has been notified of a distressing incident in which the body of a pregnant woman was discovered by the roadside along the Piai-Itangi Murram Road early this morning," the statement read.

According to NPS, preliminary observations at the scene revealed that the woman had visible injuries to her head and hip. She was identified as Catherine Njeru. 

The service said investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kirinyaga County joined local police officers at the scene as efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding her death got underway.

"Kirinyaga County DCI officers, led by the CCIO, promptly joined local Sub-County police investigators at the scene and commenced investigations into the cause of death. 

"The Central Regional Police command, led by the Regional Criminal Investigations Officer (RCIO), has also joined the County team in the investigations," the statement added.

The incident has also been brought to the attention of the Inspector General, Douglas Kanja, who directed the DCI to move swiftly in establishing what happened.

"The Inspector General of the National Police Service (IG-NPS) has been kept briefed on this heinous crime and has directed the Director of Criminal Investigations to expedite the investigation and establish the facts," the statement further read.

NPS said the investigation would seek to establish the circumstances that led to Njeru's death and identify those responsible.

"The NPS condoles with the family, relatives, and friends of the deceased and commits to expeditious and conclusive investigations to ensure that any person or persons responsible for this barbaric crime are brought to justice," the statement noted.

NPS also appealed to residents of Itangi to remain calm as detectives continue with their inquiries, urging the public to avoid speculation that could interfere with the investigation.

"The public and residents of Itangi are urged to remain calm and refrain from speculation while supporting the investigators," the statement concluded.

This comes days after the DCI addressed claims circulating on social media concerning the death of Dennis Aremo Osiemo while in police custody at Narumoru Police Station.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 22, the DCI said Osiemo’s arrest followed investigations into a case of assault causing actual bodily harm that had been reported at Narumoru Police Station.

According to the agency, the complainant later raised concerns about the handling of the case with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Nanyuki. 

The ODPP subsequently directed that the matter be taken over by the DCI.

The case file was forwarded to the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO), Kieni East, on September 3, 2026. 

Detectives subsequently trailed Osiemo to Kisii, where he was reported to have gone into hiding.

The DCI said officers from Kieni East, with assistance from the SCCIO, Masaba North, eventually arrested Osiemo in Kisii on September 18, 2026.

"With the assistance of the SCCIO, Masaba North, DCI officers from Kieni East arrested Osiemo in Kisii on 18 September 2026. He was first booked at Keroka Police Station pending collection. He was collected by DCI officers from Kieni East and booked at Narumoru Police Station on 19 September 2026," the statement read.

According to the DCI, Osiemo was processed on the same day, had his statement recorded and was returned to the cells after officers observed that he was in normal condition. 

He had been scheduled to appear in court on Monday, September 21, over the assault case.

However, on Sunday, September 20, Osiemo was found hanging from the ventilation grills inside the police cell at Narumoru Police Station.

"The scene was processed immediately in the presence of officers of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), senior police officers and a relative. The body was thereafter removed to the Narumoru mortuary pending autopsy," the statement added.