IPOA begins probe after man dies in Kitengela police station

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man at the Kitengela police station.

Eric Otieno a Kenyan-American citizen, is alleged to have died inside the station’s cells after he was arrested together with two friends while leaving a nightclub on September 18.

His family alleges neglect by police officer as he had underlying conditions, maintaining he had committed no offence when he was arrested.

”Sasa ameshikwa akitoka kwa clabu hapo barabara ya deliverance akaniambia I think they need just 1000 bob,” said David Mwangi.

Georginah Mwawasi, his wife, said that Otieno was arrested by plain-cloth officers, arguing that he made no offence.

 “The others were put in cuffs but he was not cuffed and they were put in the lorry. According to the message he sent he said ‘there’s no reason why we are being taken in’,” she narrated.

One of the men arrested alongside Otieno gave an account on the incident that raises more questions about what happened inside the station.

He claims Otieno known by his street name, J, offered to clean the cells in exchange for his release.

But what began as an apparent attempt to secure his freedom would take a deadly turn.

"He was rolling down and I started seeing him convulsing and noises coming from him. I banged on the door for police officers and they didn’t respond by the time they come they flashed the light and from what I can see his eyes were protruding and eyes were very red the vain on his neck were very protruding," he said.

He claims they desperately tried to alert police officers as Otieno’s condition deteriorated but the response did not come in time.

Georginah, who was in nairobi, had earlier been trying to raise money after learning that he had been arrested and was seeking his release.

“Sahii nashindwa vile ntaambia watoto kuwa amekufa. Mmoja anajua, mdogo hajui. Lazina nitafute nitakavyomwambia coz alikuwa so attached,“ she noted.

His family alleges neglect by officers on duty.

“So many criminals are behind this whether you took your hands and put it on his neck and chocked him to death or whether you stood by and watched him die, you are as guilty as charged,” said Eliakim Juma Orunda his cousin.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Saturday reportedly found no external injuries consistent with an assault.

The examination also reportedly established that the deceased had tuberculosis and a kidney-related illness.

Those findings are now part of the evidence that investigators will have to scrutinize as they seek to establish if he was properly managed while he was in custody.