The civilian oversight body against police, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched murder probe into deaths of two people while in police custody.
Vitalis Okinda allegedly died while in police custody at Bondo Police Station while Ibrahim Omar died while in Rhamu area of Mandera County.
25-year-old Vitalis was reportedly arrested on January 8 for a minor traffic offence and had been held at Bondo Police Station.
He was later reported dead although the family claims mischief.“He was arrested for a traffic offence and taken to the Bondo Police Station. However, a day later police called and said that he had died. They arrested him when he was alive and kicking, how he ended up dead remains a mystery to us as a family. Police officers who were on duty for the two days he was there should be honest about his death,” Dominic Misolo, a family member lamented.
Besides the two deaths, the authority is also investigating another incident in which a police officer in Imenti South shot and seriously injured a man for allegedly not wearing a face mask in public.
Muchiri was arrested after he shot 24-year-old Pharis Karani Gitobu on the foot.
He later surrendered himself to the Nkubu Police Station where officers recovered an AK-47 rifle with 29 rounds of ammunition from him.
Gitobu is meanwhile currently admitted at the Consolata Mission Hospital.
“IPOA Act Section 7 (a)(x), Section 5 of the Sixth Schedule of the National Police Service Act which compels the police to report all deaths, serious injury and other grave consequences to the Authority for investigations, a Rapid Response Team was yesterday dispatched to Bondo with instructions to obtain all relevant information that may be relevant in unveiling the circumstances surrounding the incident,” IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori said in a statement on Wednesday.” She stated.
“On completion, where fault is found, the Authority shall not hesitate to make recommendations, including but not limited to prosecution,” Makori assured.