Methu calls for IPOA probe after woman miscarries in police custody in Nyandarua
Victim's sister says she pleaded with the officers to release her as they sought to raise the money, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
Nyandarua Senator John Methu has written to Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan to investigate an incident where a pregnant woman miscarried in police custody after officers refused to release her to seek medical assistance.
According to Milkah Wangari, who was seven months pregnant, she was placed in the custody at Rwanyambo Police Station in Kinangop sub-county after her employer filed a complaint, claiming she had stolen Sh18,000 from the day’s sales.
Speaking to local media, the sister of the victim, only identified as Wangui, stated that she pleaded with the police officers to release her as they sought to raise the money, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
“I pleaded with the police to release my sister as we tried to raise the money on Wednesday, but they declined. I pleaded with them, informing them that my sister had other children waiting at home and we had a sick mother to take care of, but they refused,” she stated.
Wangui said that it was later discovered that only Sh9,000 was missing, and the family managed to raise Sh6,000, though they did not secure her release.
The family revealed that at around 1 am, the victim called her sister to inform her that she needed assistance since she was bleeding heavily.
However, upon arrival, officers reportedly chased the sister away, denying her access.
Witnesses and family members claim that the woman began experiencing complications but was left unattended for hours, leading to the tragic loss of her pregnancy.
“I came back to the station early in the morning, but I was still denied access to her. But I was still denied access to her, but learned that she had suffered a miscarriage during the night and had remained in the police cell,” the sister narrated.
Angry residents of Kinangop who stormed the local police post said they heard the screams of the victims, who they stated complained of severe abdominal pain and pleaded for medical attention, which was allegedly ignored by the officers.
The residents called on the Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau to intervene.
The residents said that reshuffles need to be done at the Police Post and have female officers who will understand what women go through.
They also demanded that female cells need to be constructed.
“The matter is very painful, and we want this to get to our Woman Representative. We need female cells created even as we demand female cops to be brought here as they understand what women go through,” the protesters demanded.
“We need a cell where mothers can even be with their kids when they are arrested,” they added.
In his letter to Hassan, Methu said: “Given the gravity of these allegations and the constitutional rights of suspects in custody, I urge IPOA to take up this matter with urgency, establish the facts, and take appropriate action against any officers found culpable,” Methu said in his letter.
The incident comes at a time the police are on the spot following the death of blogger and teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang in a cell at the Central Police Station in Nairobi sparking national outrage.
