Photo courtesy africannews.com
Police have been accused of using excessive force in the past to implement curfew rules. The latest victims were 22-year-old Benson Njiru Ndwiga and 19-year-old Emmanuel Mutura Ndigwa, who were both allegedly killed in police custody. Last seen on 1st of August when detained for allegedly being outdoors beyond the 10 p.m local curfew imposed as a containment measure. The Rights group of Missing Voices say their bodies were found two days later by family members at a local morgue.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority had concluded investigations into the matter and forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The DPP Noordin Haji has directed Hillary Mutyambai to suspend former Embu North OCPD Emily Ngaruya and Manyatta OCS Abdullahi Yaya over alleged involvement in the deaths of two brothers. Ngaruiya and Yaya have since been replaced as Sub-County Police Commander and Officer Commanding Station, respectively. The officers were on Monday suspended to pave the way for further probe into the deaths of the two brothers. The two are accused of negligence after police allegedly killed the brothers.
On 17th, August six officers were arrested in connection with the deaths of brothers Benson Njiru and Emmanuel Mutura and detained for 14 days pending investigations. A funeral was held on Friday for the two brothers who died after allegedly breaking a COVID-19 curfew. The brothers had been studying engineering and law, respectively. Hundreds of mourners joined family members at the funeral in their hometown of Kianjokoma in Embu County. During the service, student leader Jennifer Mukami called for justice for the two men, insisting the police needed to be held accountable.
