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The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is investigating an incident where three police officers have been implicated in the alleged murder of a 17-year-old street boy in Eldoret town.

The victim, Keith Moses, whose lifeless body was found dumped at Huruma Sewerage treatment plant in the outskirts of Eldoret had been living in the street since he was seven years.

According to IPOA, the boy went missing between  February 27 and  28 at around 10 pm after he was flushed out by four police officers from a waste bin where he had sought shelter for the night.

The deceased took to street life after his parents separated. It is alleged the officers who are attached to the Eldoret Central Police Station chased after the slain street boy only for his lifeless body to be discovered floating at the Huruma Sewerage Treatment Plant site on March 3.

“We took an OB 89/7/3/2023 at the Central Police station for missing persons and were later informed that Yamumbi police officers had retrieved the body of an unidentified young man from the Huruma sewerage site and had taken it to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary. Keith’s parents positively identified the body,” said Juma Akumu, a defender of the Rights of street children in Eldoret.

“We booked an OB on 15/3/3/23 at Yamumbi Police regarding the murder of Keith and we hope justice will be expedited,” added Juma.

Keith’s mother Linet Malezi said she had separated from her estranged husband Zadok Ilayesa when Keith was seven years old and had left the son under his care before heading to Kipkoimet, Nandi county where she currently works for a tea company.

“It was while at my place of work that I received with horror and disbelief the news of my son’s death,” she recounted as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She added: “I saw his body, he was brutally beaten before being murdered. We urge the government to ensure justice prevails for my child,” said Malezi.

Criminal activities

Keith’s father, Zadock, who works as a carpenter noted that despite Keith living in the streets, he was an honest child who did not engage in criminal activities and that he did not deserve to die in such a manner.

“The postmortem report indicates he had two broken ribs, a broken chest cavity, his head was swollen suggesting he had been hit from the back of his head with an object and his throat could have been twisted, my son died a painful death,” Zadock lamented.

He asked IPOA to speed up investigations into the incident noting that he has never had a sleep since his son was brutally murdered in unclear circumstances.

Dennis Oketch, who is the Head of IPOA Communications said a rapid investigations team has already been dispatched to Eldoret and is currently investigating police officers alleged to have committed the heinous murder. “The authority is seized of the matter concerning the death of Keith Moses on February 27 allegedly caused by the police. IPOA dispatched its rapid investigations team to commence investigations,” assured Oketch.

He further said that investigations are ongoing while assuring the family that everything will be done to bring to book those culpable for the death of their son.

“Let assured the deceased parents that IPOA will make appropriate recommendations to address the matter either through the criminal justice system or through internal disciplinary mechanisms,” he said.

Moses will be laid to rest on Friday at Iregi village in Chavakali, Vihiga county.