Nyamira Residents Protest Death of 24-Year-Old Man in Police Custody

Nyamira Residents Protest Death of 24-Year-Old Man in Police Custody

Residents of Iranya in Kitutu Masaba Constituency, Nyamira County, have staged a peaceful protest demanding justice following the death of a 24-year-old man while in police custody in Naromoru.

The deceased, identified as Dennis Oremo, was reportedly arrested by police officers in Naromoru before he was later found dead inside a police cell.

According to his family, Oremo had been working on a farm in Naromoru when officers arrested him over allegations that he had assaulted his employer.

The family said officers at Naromoru Police Station later informed them that Oremo had been found hanging inside the cell using a piece of mattress covering that was available in the room where he had been detained.

However, Oremo’s relatives have rejected the account and are demanding an independent investigation to establish what happened before his death.

The family has appealed to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to intervene and ensure the circumstances surrounding the death are investigated.

Oremo’s mother, Ruth Moraa, described her son as a peaceful young man and questioned how he could have died while under police supervision.

“My son was a very polite man who never had quarrels with anyone. Even here at home, if you could send him somewhere, he could just go without any questions.”

The family has also raised questions over why Oremo was not taken to court after his arrest and why he remained in police custody.

Relatives said they are now dealing with the emotional and financial burden of preparing for his burial while seeking answers from authorities.

Oremo’s uncle, Angley Nyangena, said the family wanted a clear explanation of the events that preceded the young man’s death.

“It seems that even people in police custody have no security. So the government should tell us what happened without hiding anything from us.”

The concerns have prompted residents to take to the streets, with protesters calling for accountability and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The family wants investigators to establish whether Oremo sustained any injuries before his death, determine the circumstances inside the police cell and establish whether proper procedures were followed after his arrest.

The case has also renewed attention on deaths occurring in police custody and the responsibility of authorities to protect suspects and detainees while they remain under state supervision.

In August, the National Police Service outlined measures for handling deaths occurring in police custody, saying investigations should begin immediately whenever such incidents are reported.

The NPS said officers who were on duty at the time of a death would be treated as persons of interest during investigations.

The service further stated that investigations should be thorough and impartial and should establish the circumstances surrounding each death.

The latest case in Nyamira is therefore expected to come under scrutiny as the family and residents seek answers about Oremo’s final hours.

For the family, the central question remains how a young man who had been arrested over an alleged assault ended up dead inside a police cell.

As calls for an independent investigation grow, relatives are urging the relevant authorities to establish the facts and provide a transparent account of what happened while Oremo was in custody.

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Nyamira Residents Protest Death of 24-Year-Old Man in Police Custody