Police on the spot after another remandee dies in custody in Mombasa

Simon Warui, who went missing in Nairobi a week ago, was later found dead, with a post-mortem revealing that he died of fractures on the neck.

Even before the puzzle over the murder of Albert Ojwang in police cells is resolved, police are again under scrutiny. Warui was found dead in custody, with an autopsy showing he died from lack of oxygen. His body also bore fractures on the neck and a broken hand.

According to the family, Warui was reported missing from Nairobi’s Umoja I Estate last Sunday, with his disappearance reported at Kamukunji Police Station. Three days later, his wife claims she received a phone call from a church security guard along Nkrumah Road, who notified her that Warui had been booked at Central Police Station in Mombasa.

Daniel Gicheha, a friend, said: “Alikuwa amepatikana pale Catholic, akachukuliwa na soja. Soja akamchukua akampeleka police station, Central Police Station Mombasa.”

Godfrey Gichuru, a cousin, added: “They got here around 1 a.m. on Thursday morning. They went to the police station, they requested to see him, but they were not given access.”

The following morning, the family returned to the station, where a team of DCI officers took them to the washroom, where police claimed the late Simon was found lying, with blood oozing from his nose.

The puzzling death has raised more questions than answers. A post-mortem conducted at the Coast General Hospital revealed that Warui died due to lack of oxygen, with visible injuries on his neck and hands, as well as blackened fingers.

Gicheha said: “DCI wakatuchukua wakatupeleka Central Police. Na kufika pale tukaonyeshwa. Hakuna ushuhuda ni yeye alijiua ama ni kuuawa.”

Wallid Sketty, a human rights activist in Mombasa, questioned the circumstances, saying, “Ni kitu gani kilimpelekea yeye kuja Mombasa? Jambo la pili, yeye kuja Mombasa kwanini awekwe ndani ya cell? Aliwekwa polisi kwa makosa gani? Wao wanasema alijaribu kupanda ukuta akaanguka akafariki. Kulingana na akili ya kibinadamu hili ni jambo ambalo halingii akilini. Hata kama alikuwa anapanda, officers walikuwa wapi—those on duty?”