Nakuru: Boda boda rider dies in police custody over Ksh8K debt
By Ascah Mwango, October 10, 2025A 40-year-old boda boda rider from Solai, Nakuru County, has died while in police custody
According to Vocal Africa Chief Executive Officer Hussein Khalid’s post on Friday, October 10, 2025, the deceased, identified as Eric Tonui Koros, was arrested on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, for failing to pay a debt of Ksh 8,000. He was taken to Solai ACC Police Post, where he was being held.
“Another death in police custody! 40-year-old Eric Tonui Koros, a boda boda rider based in Solai, Nakuru county, has lost his life while in custody at Solai ACC Police Post,” Khalid stated.
Adding;
“The deceased was arrested on Tuesday, 7th October at around 2.30 pm for failing to pay a debt of Kshs 8,000.”
Khalid said that later that evening, officers visited the deceased’s home and asked his wife to accompany them to the station. When she arrived, she was informed that her husband had died in custody.
Khalid reported that Koros has left behind a wife and five children. His body is being preserved at Kwa Jack mortuary in Nakuru.
Khalid described the incident as another tragic case of death in police custody and called for an independent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding Koros’s death.
“Later on the same day, around 8 pm, the family, through the wife, confirmed to @VOCALAfrica_ that they were visited by officers who took them to the police post where they were informed of the demise of Eric Kipranui Koros. The deceased has left behind a wife and 5 children. His body is being preserved at Kwa Jack mortuary in Nakuru,” Khalid reported.
The incident comes weeks after a similar case in Mombasa, where 26-year-old Simon Warui died while being held at Mombasa Central Police Station. Warui had been reported missing by his family in Nairobi on September 14, 2025, and was later found in custody in Mombasa.
A post-mortem report indicated that Warui died from cardiorespiratory collapse caused by a fractured and dislocated neck. However, his family rejected the report, accusing the police of attempting to cover up the cause of death.
His death triggered protests in both Mombasa and Nairobi, with human rights groups demanding justice and independent investigations.