A 40-year-old man has died while in police custody in Migori County, days after being arrested over allegations of cutting down trees.
Alan Kamau Kimani was arrested on September 25 and held at Komomwamu Police Post in Kuria West.
His mother, Mary Wambui, says she first learned of the arrest through a call from a police officer, after which she went to the station to seek his release.
According to Wambui, officers demanded a cash bail of Sh15,000, money she could not raise. She claims that the following day, a police officer called again, this time warning her of dire consequences if she failed to bring the money. Hours later, she says she received another call informing her that her son had died in custody.
When she sought clarity, police allegedly told her that Kimani had taken his own life while in the cell.
The family, with the support of rights group VOCAL Africa, has disputed this explanation and is demanding accountability.
VOCAL CEO Hussein Khalid says the organisation is working with the family and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to push for an autopsy and a full investigation.
Kamau’s casw comes just days after another man, Simon Warui, was discovered dead in custody at Mombasa Central Police Station.
Warui, who had earlier been reported missing by his family, was confirmed dead on September 23.
An autopsy conducted by IPOA revealed he died from cardiorespiratory collapse caused by a neck fracture or dislocation.
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