The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Kenyan-American man who died while in police custody at the Kitengela Police Station.
Eric Otieno is alleged to have died inside the station’s cells after he was arrested alongside two friends while leaving a nightclub on September 18.
His family claims plain-clothes officers arrested Otieno despite having committed no offence. They also allege that police failed to take proper account of his underlying health conditions while he was in custody.
David Mwangi, who spoke about the arrest, said Otieno had indicated that officers appeared to be demanding money following his arrest.
“Sasa ameshikwa akitoka kwa clabu hapo barabara ya Deliverance akaniambia, ‘I think they need just 1000 bob,’” Mwangi said.
Otieno’s wife, Georginah Mwawasi, said the circumstances of his arrest raised questions from the outset. She said the two other men were handcuffed, while Otieno was not, before they were taken to the police station.
According to Mwawasi, Otieno sent a message questioning why they were being taken into custody.
One of the men arrested alongside him has also given an account of what happened inside the station, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding Otieno’s death.
The man claims Otieno, who was known by the street name “J”, offered to clean the cells in exchange for his release.
However, he said Otieno later began showing signs of severe distress.
“He was rolling down and I started seeing him convulsing and noises coming from him,” he said, claiming that he repeatedly banged on the cell door in an attempt to alert police officers.
He said that by the time officers responded, Otieno appeared to be in critical condition.
The witness claims efforts to alert officers continued as Otieno’s condition deteriorated, but that help did not arrive in time.
Meanwhile, Mwawasi said she had been in Nairobi trying to raise money after learning that her husband had been arrested and was seeking his release.
She is now faced with the task of explaining his death to their children.
“Sahii nashindwa vile ntaambia watoto kuwa amekufa. Mmoja anajua, mdogo hajui. Lazima nitafute nitakavyomwambia coz alikuwa so attached,” she said.
Otieno’s family has accused police officers on duty of neglect and is demanding accountability over the circumstances surrounding his death.
His cousin, Eliakim Juma Orunda, said those responsible should be held accountable if investigations establish that officers failed to act as Otieno’s condition deteriorated.
A post-mortem examination conducted on Saturday reportedly found no external injuries consistent with an assault. The examination also reportedly established that Otieno had tuberculosis and a kidney-related illness.
The findings are now expected to form part of IPOA’s investigation as authorities seek to establish what happened inside the Kitengela police station and whether Otieno received appropriate medical attention while in custody.
IPOA is expected to examine the circumstances of his arrest, his treatment while in custody, the response of officers when his condition deteriorated and the events leading to his death.
