A family in Migori County is demanding answers after their 40-year-old relative, Alan Kamau Kimani, died while being held at Komomwamu Police Post in Kuria West.
Kimani, who had been arrested on Thursday, September 25, for allegedly cutting down trees, was reported dead the following day under circumstances that have sparked widespread concern.
Arrest and Detention
Alan Kamau Kimani’s mother, Mary Wambui, stated that she was informed of the arrest by a police officer via a phone call on the day of the arrest.
She visited the station hoping to secure her son’s release, but was asked to pay KSh15,000.
Wambui said she did not have the money and returned home empty-handed, leaving Kimani in custody.
The following morning, Friday, September 26, Wambui said she received another call from an officer.
This time, she alleged, the officer threatened her with “dire consequences” if she failed to deliver the demanded bribe.
Hours later, she was contacted again, but instead of another demand, she was told that her son Alan Kamau had died.
When the family rushed back to the police post, they were informed that Kimani had taken his own life in the cell.
Relatives immediately rejected this version, pointing to the extortion attempt as evidence of possible foul play.
“This was not suicide. My son was killed while in police custody. We want justice and we want those involved arrested,” Wambui said.
Police and Civil Society Response
Officers at Komomwamu stated that he was found hanging in the cell on Friday, September 26, claiming that he tied a shirt around his neck and hanged himself on the window.
They added that standard procedures were followed and that the case was being referred to higher authorities.
The official explanation has not eased tensions in the community, and residents have joined the family in demanding a transparent investigation, arguing that custodial deaths are becoming disturbingly common.
Calls for accountability have grown louder, with many pointing to the alleged bribe demand as a sign of misconduct.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has been contacted to undertake an autopsy and launch investigations into the circumstances of Kimani’s death.
Civil rights organisation VOCAL Africa has also taken up the matter, and its executive director, Hussein Khalid, confirmed that the group is in touch with both the family and IPOA.
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Khalid said the death raises urgent questions about police conduct and the vulnerability of suspects in custody.
“No Kenyan should die in a police cell. We will ensure that this case is thoroughly investigated, and justice is delivered.”
The case has gained national attention through social media, with the hashtag #JusticeForAlanKamauKimani trending as activists, politicians, and citizens call for accountability.
Wider Context
Kimani’s death adds to a growing list of custodial deaths that have put police under scrutiny. Recent years have seen repeated cases of suspects dying under unclear circumstances while detained.
Human rights groups argue that weak accountability structures allow officers to escape punishment even in cases where foul play is suspected.
IPOA has often been tasked with investigating such incidents, but families and civil society organisations have criticised the slow pace of inquiries.
Analysts have repeatedly warned that unless thorough investigations are carried out, public confidence in law enforcement will continue to erode.
Legal experts note that extortion claims, such as those made by Kimani’s family, underscore the vulnerability of poor households when dealing with police.
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Demands for money in exchange for release remain a persistent abuse of power, with families frequently left powerless when they cannot raise the amounts demanded.
The family of Alan Kamau Kimani insists that justice must not be delayed and is calling not only for a transparent autopsy but also for the prosecution of any officers found guilty.
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