LSK demands probe into death of Kiambu student inside police cell

Reports indicated that Brian Njunge Ndungu, an architecture student at Kiambu National Polytechnic, had been arrested over allegations of theft involving household items belonging to a neighbour before being taken to Kiambu Police Station.

In a post on X, LSK President Charles Kanjama said the circumstances surrounding the death, including claims that the family was allegedly denied timely access to the student before news of his death emerged, require urgent public disclosure and scrutiny.

“The circumstances presently being reported, including the family allegedly being denied access to him shortly before news of his death emerged, make it imperative that there be full accountability and public disclosure of the facts," he stated.

"The Law Society of Kenya is actively reaching out to Brian's family to offer comprehensive legal support and ensure a mandatory public inquest is conducted. We will not permit the normalization of custodial deaths or the evasion of administrative accountability."

The statement comes amid growing calls from the family of the deceased for an independent investigation into what they describe as a suspicious death inside police custody.

Njunge's family alleged that events leading up to the discovery of his body raised serious questions, including claims that they were not immediately informed of his condition upon arriving at the station and that they were instead received by officers alongside individuals described as a chaplain and counsellor.

They further claimed that they were later escorted to a holding cell where they found Njunge alone, hanging inside the cell, with visible marks and blood stains on his body, raising doubts about the circumstances of his death.

Njunge's mother, Susan Wambui, called for a transparent investigation, saying the family has not been given a satisfactory explanation beyond claims that he died by suicide.

“I want justice for my son. We have been given no proper explanation except being told he committed suicide,” she said.

The family also questioned inconsistencies in the reported details of the alleged theft case, including the location of the complainant’s residence and the identity of individuals who allegedly made the initial call to the family informing them of the arrest.

Relatives stated that they have already recorded statements as they push for further investigations.

They also called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and other investigative agencies to conduct an independent probe into the incident.