Man dies after alleged police beating in Nyamira

A grey cloud descended over the skies of Nyamiranga village in Borabu, Nyamira County, at the home of the late Franklin Mong’are.

Tearful family and friends came to condole with the family of the 23-year-old who died in the custody of the area Assistant Chief in unclear circumstances.

His family says the late Mong’are had gone to the administrator’s office seeking to have his impounded motorbike released.

But, moments later, Mongare was reduced to a shell of broken bones and a crushed skull; he later succumbed to his fatal injuries at the Tenwek Mission Hospital.

Violet Kwamboka, an eye witness, said: “Alisema nifungulie niende, nilikuwa na makosa gani? Ndio huyo askari alipiga mlango teke ukafunguka, akamtoa hapo kwa room akamshika hivi akaamza kumpiga makofi.”

Moses Mong'are, the deceased’s father, said: “Tarehe ishirini na saba saa mbili asubuhi nilipigiwa ripoti kuwa kijana wangu alikuwa amelazwa hospitalini...mtoto ameharibiwa skull sana haiwezi kurudiwa.”

The local administrator, Jared Ongaga, has however denied the accusation, saying he is not aware of the circumstances leading to the attack and subsequent demise of Mong’are.

“Yule kijana mimi sikumpiga wala sikumpeleka kwa wale askari mahali walikuwa. Mimi kitu nilifanya ni kushika pikipiki na ile pombe iliyokuwa imeshikwa,” he said.

Human rights defenders have decried the incident, calling for the arrest of the Assistant Chief and the officers involved.

“It’s sad that the people who are supposed to be protecting us are the people who are going around killing our sons, brothers and husbansds,” said Grace Osinde, a human rights defender.

Fransis Mokua, the deceased’s uncle, stated; “The death of this young man was caused by people who were supposed to protect him. Hakuna sheria inasema mtu ameitwa kwa chief na askari wa chief badala ya ku-protect life ndio ana-take away life.”

The body of the deceased is lying at the Tenwek Mission Hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem exam.

The late Mong’are is survived by his wife and a six month old baby.