photo courtesy The Standard.
Two police officers based at Roma police station in Marani Sub-county, Kisii stand to face murder charges in the death of a boda boda operator who they assaulted a week ago. The rider died while in police custody at Rioma Police Station where he had been detained after failing to raise an Sh8,000 fine finding that cemented suspicions that the police officers caused his death. A post-mortem revealed that he died from severe head injuries resulting from being hit with a blunt object. This, however, is not an isolated case.
In July 2020, Rioma Police Station was torched by residents protesting the death of a local businessman believed to have been shot and killed by a police officer stationed in the area after they got into an argument over the use of a hand sanitiser. In December, 2020, the Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered the arrest of Police Constable Bonface Maubi for the offence of murder. Following a complaint that was made at Kisii Police station, that one Bramwel Jimmy Chukunza, 28 now deceased, had been arrested together with his colleague Wycliffe Omondi Okoko, 35 and placed in custody at Kisii police Station on December, 19 and later assaulted at the station.The deceased died while undergoing treatment at Nyanchwa Mission Hospital after being released from police custody the following day.
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According to the investigators he was physically assaulted and seriously injured by policemen on patrol, who went ahead to arrest and detain him at Rioma Police Station. He was also taken to court the following day and charged with operating a motorcycle without insurance and failure to wear a reflector jacket. Where he pleaded guilty to the charges. Doctors at Marani Sub-county Hospital where he was rushed confirmed he was dead on arrival.
this is not the only incident from the police station this year either as a third officer from the station is also a prime suspect in the fatal shooting of a woman. During a demo by locals who were protesting a boda boda operator’s shooting.
The Internal Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai pitched tent Wednesday at Marani Sub-County, where Rioma Police Station is located, in a bid to cool tensions between the police and residents.
