An autopsy has revealed how a man in Nakuru died under strange circumstances after spending four days in police custody.
The postmortem showed that the deceased, identified as Festus Muthui, died from multiple head injuries.
The 26-year-old had been detained at Bondeni Police Station in Nakuru County for at least four days without being formally charged in court.
Muthui, a mechanic, was detained at the police station on December 20, 2024, after his estranged wife accused him of defiling their 12-year-old daughter.
Autopsy Reveals Festus Muthui Died of Head Injury
The pathologist said the postmortem findings showed that the injuries resulted from blunt force trauma to the head.
“As a result of my examination, I have formed the opinion that the cause of death was a severe head injury accompanied by global brain contusion and subdural hematoma due to multiple blunt head trauma force,” he stated.
The autopsy was conducted in the presence of Muthui’s family, officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and human rights defenders.
In addition to the severe head injuries identified as the cause of death, the postmortem also revealed that Muthui sustained several other injuries including a fractured sternum, leg injuries, and multiple bruises on his neck and shoulders, which the family believes were inflicted while he was in police custody.
Why the Deceased Was Arrested
George Mutinda, the father of the deceased, stated that his ex-wife alleged she had sent their daughter to Muthui to collect Ksh30,000, which had accumulated for her upkeep.
“After learning of the arrest, I travelled from Kitui to Nakuru and met the ex-wife. She claimed my son defiled his own daughter leading to the arrest,” said Mutinda.
According to Mutinda, the children’s department had asked his son to pay Ksh2,000 monthly maintenance, which he stopped paying at some point, forcing him to intervene. He paid Ksh5,400 and promised to add Ksh15,000 later.
Mutinda revealed that he arrived in Nakuru on December 23, 2024, and found his son in custody but in poor health.
“I asked them to allow my son to get medical attention, but the Station Commander demanded Ksh20,000 cash bail, which my friends helped me raise,” he said.
Muthui was taken to the Nakuru Level Five Hospital for treatment. However, before they could leave the hospital, police officers arrived, rearrested him, and returned him to custody despite the bail payment.
“I later learned that his ex-wife had spoken to the police and convinced them not to release him until the upkeep money was paid in full. I had already given her Ksh5,000, but she now demanded the full amount of Ksh30,000,” Mutinda explained.
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Father Recounts Son’s Tragic Death After Police Custody
Muthui spent another night in custody. On the morning of December 24, 2024, Mutinda received an urgent call from the police, asking him to go to the station to have the deceased released.
When Mutinda arrived at the station, he requested his son’s release, but he was informed that the officer needed to consult with the Officer Commanding Station (OCS).
After a few minutes, the officer returned and stated that the OCS was demanding Ksh20,000 for Muthui’s release.
Mutinda said he went out to gather the money, which he was informed was required as cash bail, and his son was subsequently released from the cells.
Shockingly, he found that his son’s health had greatly deteriorated, forcing him to rush him to the hospital.
“I found my son lying motionless on the floor of the cells, with visible injuries on his head. They allowed me to rush him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead minutes later,” he added.
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