Family seeks justice over death of kin

The family of a 32-year-old man who died while being detained at a police station in Rumuruti town, Laikipia county, is demanding justice.

 Geoffrey Otieno (pictured) died hours after being arrested and held at Rumuruti police station.  His brother Huxley Ochieng yesterday said the deceased was arrested on September 9, 2023, at a nightclub in Rumuruti town on suspicion of being a drug peddler.

 During his arrest, a confrontation ensued between police officers and revellers who were defending him at the club.  “However, the officer managed to arrest him and two others and took them to Rumuruti police station at about 2am,” Ochieng’ said. He said the next day, the family received a phone call informing them that Otieno had been admitted to Rumuruti Sub-county Hospital.

 “We (family) rushed to the hospital and found him lying unconscious on the hospital bed. We were asked to take him to Nyahururu County Referral Hospital but on arrival, we were informed that he had already died,” Ochieng said.  Occurrence Book at the Rumuruti police station indicate that the deceased was arrested for being in possession of stolen goods, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.  His father, Andrew Onyango, appealed to the Independent Police Oversight Authority to help the family get answers over the death of his son.

He said post-mortem revealed that his son died from head injuries.