A man being held over an alleged rape case has died while in police custody at Kabiruini Police Station, prompting investigations by both police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
The 35-year-old suspect, identified as John Kiragu, was found unresponsive inside his cell on Wednesday night. Police said an officer made the discovery at about 10:35 p.m. while taking food to the suspect. Preliminary reports indicate he had allegedly used a piece of cloth torn from a mattress cover to hang himself.
Kiragu had been arrested earlier that afternoon at Chaka Trading Centre after members of the public reportedly alerted officers to his whereabouts. Investigators said he had been evading arrest over allegations of raping a 22-year-old woman.
Police had completed preliminary investigations, including a medical examination of the complainant and the processing of a P3 form, and the suspect was scheduled to appear in court the following day.
After the incident, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Sub-County Police Commander and crime scene personnel visited the station to document the scene.
As required in all cases involving deaths in police custody, IPOA has been notified and is expected to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death. The body was moved to the mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
