Police officers record statements over death of woman thrown from moving vehicle in Kirinyaga

Kirinyaga County Police Commander Anderson Njagi said all officers mentioned in connection with the incident had recorded statements with investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

“We are taking the matter seriously. All those who have been mentioned have recorded statements,” Njagi said on Thursday.

Investigations are being conducted by the DCI in Mwea East Sub-County and IPOA.

The officers who have recorded statements include officers from Itangi Police Station and some traffic officers from Wang’uru Police Station, although Njagi said it was not yet clear which station the vehicle involved belonged to.

Njagi urged residents to allow the two institutions to complete their investigations, promising that updates would be issued as the probe progresses.

Catherine Mwende Njeru, a mother of three, died after the incident at Mugamba Ciura along the Piai-South Ngariama Road in Mwea East Sub-County. The case was reported at Wang’uru Police Station, while her body was taken to the Embu Level Five Hospital mortuary.

A postmortem conducted at the hospital found that Mwende died from multiple injuries caused by blunt-force trauma.

Pathologists Peter Ndegwa and Rosemary Wangare Kamao found an extensive skull fracture, bleeding in and around the brain, a dislocation of the spinal column at the neck, multiple rib fractures and bruising of both lungs.

“There was a quite extensive fracture of the skull bone and bleeding in and around the brain. There was also dislocation of the spinal column at the level of the neck. There were fractures of some ribs on both sides and bruising of the lungs,” Ndegwa said.

The pathologist also ruled out earlier claims that Mwende was pregnant, saying her uterus was empty, although she had fibroids.

Ndegwa said the injuries were circumstantially consistent with a fall from a moving vehicle but stressed that further investigations were necessary to establish what happened.

“Circumstantially yes, that could be possible, but that needs to be really investigated so that we can combine the two,” he said.

Human rights activists who witnessed the postmortem called for the officers implicated in the incident to be held accountable if found culpable.

Hussein Khalid of Vocal Africa said the injuries were consistent with the account given by Mwende’s family, while Jane Mwaka of the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) was also present during the exercise.

“The cause of death is multiple injuries which is consistent with the story that the family has told us. From the autopsy we have seen a huge fracture of the skull, which means she hit the ground very hard,” Khalid said.

Khalid called on IPOA to expedite its investigations and take action against any officers found responsible.

“This is clear evidence that there was excess in how the police handled this particular couple, more specifically Catherine. We are calling for the immediate indictment of those officers who were involved in this incident. We are calling for justice for Catherine Njeru,” he said.

Mwende’s husband, Anthony Muturi Waweru, who was also injured in the incident, said the couple was travelling to Rupingazi at about 3am to water miraa when police officers allegedly stopped them and asked them to board the vehicle.

He alleged that the officers later demanded Ksh.1,000 before his wife was thrown from the moving vehicle.

“They are the ones who asked us to enter the police vehicle before demanding Ksh.1,000 and throwing out my wife. They thought I had died, that’s why they threw my wife. I need justice and the officers arrested,” Waweru said.

Waweru said his wife died about 500 metres from the point where he jumped from the moving vehicle.

“At the back of the vehicle we had one police officer. I don't know whether the driver of the vehicle had another officer,” he said.

Khalid also alleged that police officers in the area routinely demand money from residents for transport in police vehicles. The allegation has not been independently verified and is part of the issues that investigators are expected to establish.

Mwende’s three children, represented by Edwin Murimi and Godfrey Gachuiri, have appealed for justice for their mother.

“One of us is in school and we want justice,” Murimi said.