Questions Mount Over Death of Kiambu Polytechnic Student in Custody

Questions Mount Over Death of Kiambu Polytechnic Student in Custody

Fresh concerns over deaths occurring inside police cells have emerged after the family of a 24-year-old student from Kiambu National Polytechnic demanded answers following his death while in custody at Kiambu Police Station.

The student, identified as Brian Njunge Ndungu, reportedly died under unclear circumstances just hours after his arrest, sparking outrage from relatives, human rights groups and legal bodies who are now calling for independent investigations and accountability.

Brian, who was pursuing architecture studies at the institution, had allegedly been arrested over claims involving theft of household items belonging to a neighbour shortly after relocating to a new apartment within Kiambu town.

According to the family, they were later contacted and asked to report to the police station, but the sequence of events that followed only deepened suspicion surrounding the student’s death.

Brian’s sister recounted the family’s shock after arriving at the station and finding themselves ushered into what appeared to be a counselling session before they were officially informed about his condition.

“The person who was calling us was the caretaker. When we got to the police station, we were received by the caretaker, but we were received by two women who immediately started counselling sessions with us,” Brian’s sister stated.

The unusual reception reportedly heightened the family’s fears that something serious had already happened to their relative before police formally addressed them.

His mother later described the painful moment she allegedly discovered her son’s body inside the police station.

“I went to the station only to find my son hanging. It was very painful. He had blood stains on his clothes,” she said.

Police officers at the station have maintained that Brian is suspected to have taken his own life while in custody using a mattress cover.

Confirming the incident, Elema Sora said officers had no prior personal issues with the student and insisted investigations would determine what exactly transpired inside the cell.

“As police officers, we don’t know him; we just arrested him. There is nobody who has anything against him and, unfortunately, he died at the same time in our custody,” Sora stated.

The incident has now attracted the attention of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which condemned the circumstances surrounding the death and pledged legal support to the grieving family.

LSK President Charles Kanjama described the incident as deeply suspicious and called for a mandatory public inquest into the matter.

“The Law Society of Kenya expresses its deep consternation following reports of the sudden and deeply suspicious death of 24-year-old Brian Njung’e, a student at Kiambu National Polytechnic, while under detention at Kiambu Police Station,” Kanjama stated.

He further warned against what he termed a growing trend of unexplained custodial deaths in the country.

“We will not permit the normalization of custodial deaths or the evasion of administrative accountability,” he added.

Brian’s death now adds to a growing list of controversial fatalities reported inside police custody in recent months, incidents that continue to fuel national debate over police conduct and accountability within detention facilities.

Among the cases frequently cited by activists is the death of Albert Ojwang, who died while being held at Central Police Station in Nairobi.

Initial police reports in that case claimed Ojwang died by suicide after allegedly hitting his head against a cell wall multiple times, an explanation that attracted widespread public skepticism and calls for independent investigations.

Human rights organisations and legal experts have increasingly questioned whether enough safeguards exist within Kenyan police stations to protect detainees and ensure transparent investigations whenever deaths occur in custody.

Pressure is now mounting on investigative agencies, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), to establish the exact circumstances surrounding Brian Njunge Ndungu’s death and determine whether any officers may bear responsibility.

As investigations continue, the family says it is determined to pursue justice and accountability over what it believes remains an unexplained and troubling death inside police custody.

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Questions Mount Over Death of Kiambu Polytechnic Student in Custody