Lobby Calls for Probe After 24-Year-Old Student Dies at Kiambu Police Station

Lobby Calls for Probe After 24-Year-Old Student Dies at Kiambu Police Station

Fresh concerns over deaths occurring in police custody have emerged after a 24-year-old student died while being held at Kiambu Police Station under circumstances that have now triggered demands for an independent investigation.

Human rights organisation Vocal Africa has called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch an immediate probe into the death of Brian Njung’e, a student at Kiambu Polytechnic, whose family says they received conflicting information surrounding his final hours in custody.

According to the rights lobby, Njung’e was arrested on May 21 in the Kirigiti area of Kiambu Town before being taken to Kiambu Police Station.

The exact reasons for his arrest remain unclear, with activists and family members questioning why the student was detained in the first place.

Speaking on the matter, Vocal Africa Chief Executive Officer Hussein Khalid said the circumstances surrounding the death raise serious concerns that require urgent and transparent investigations.

According to Khalid, the deceased managed to contact his mother from the police cells at around 9am shortly after his arrest, prompting immediate concern from the family.

The family reportedly rushed to the station later in the morning hoping to see him and understand the reasons behind his detention.

However, upon arrival at the station shortly before noon, relatives were allegedly informed to wait as officers handled the matter.

Hours later, the family says they were informed that Njung’e had died by suicide while inside the police cells.

“The family was later informed at around 2pm that their son had allegedly died by suicide while in custody,” Khalid said while calling for an independent investigation into the incident.

The incident has reignited public debate over deaths occurring in police custody and the handling of detainees within police stations across the country.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over what they describe as a troubling pattern of unexplained deaths in custody, with several recent cases attracting national attention and public outrage.

Among the incidents referenced by activists is the death of Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in May 2025 while detained at Central Police Station over allegations of publishing false information online.

Another widely discussed case involved Jack Leon Matoke, a 23-year-old who died hours after being booked at Kawangware Police Station in December 2025.

Police had claimed Matoke died by suicide after allegedly hanging himself using a T-shirt while inside the cells. However, questions later emerged after reports indicated he was still wearing full motorcycle riding gear when his body was discovered.

Rights groups say such cases continue to expose gaps in accountability within law enforcement agencies.

According to reports by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), several deaths recorded in police custody over the past year were linked to severe injuries, cardiorespiratory failure, cardiogenic shock, and signs consistent with physical assault or suffocation.

The organisation further noted that some cases appeared to have been concealed or inadequately investigated, leaving affected families without answers or justice.

“Some of the fatalities were linked to cardiorespiratory failure or cardiogenic shock caused by multiple injuries, suggesting possible physical assault, torture or suffocation,” part of the IMLU findings stated.

As pressure mounts over Njung’e’s death, human rights defenders are now demanding a swift and transparent inquiry by IPOA and other oversight agencies.

The family, meanwhile, is seeking answers regarding the student’s arrest, detention, and the events that unfolded inside the station before his death.

By Thursday evening, police had not issued a detailed public statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, even as calls for accountability continued to intensify.

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Lobby Calls for Probe After 24-Year-Old Student Dies at Kiambu Police Station