A man who was being held at Narumoru Police Station on assault charges was found dead in his cell on Sunday morning, September 20, raising fresh concerns about the safety of suspects in police custody. Dennis Aremo Osiemo, 28, was discovered hanging from ventilation grills in the holding cell, just one day before he was scheduled to face court.
Osiemo had been arrested in connection with a violent attack that took place in early July this year. The incident involved a woman who says Osiemo, who once worked on her farm, showed up at her home and assaulted her with a knife, causing serious injuries. The woman reported the matter to police and received treatment at Tumutumu Hospital for nine days before being discharged.
After the initial complaint was made, the case went through the usual channels, first being handled by prosecutors in Nanyuki. However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions felt that criminal investigators needed to take over, so the file was transferred to the DCI on September 3. Detectives then spent about two weeks tracking down Osiemo, who had apparently run away to Kisii to hide from authorities. He was finally caught on September 18 with the help of officers from Masaba North.
Once arrested, Osiemo was taken to Keroka Police Station first before being moved to Narumoru on September 19. Everything seemed routine, and he was expected to make his court appearance the following Monday. But things took a tragic turn when morning came.
The circumstances of his death remain unclear, though the DCI has been quick to stress that a proper investigation is underway. The agency says the death scene was processed in the presence of officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, senior police commanders, and a family member. An autopsy is expected to provide more answers about exactly what happened.
The DCI has now handed the investigation over to IPOA, the independent body tasked with looking into police conduct. In a statement, the agency said it would work together with IPOA to get to the bottom of what happened. The agency also expressed its sympathy to Osiemo’s loved ones during this difficult period.
What makes this case significant is the timing and the questions it raises. With Osiemo scheduled to appear in court just hours after his body was discovered, many people are wondering whether he would have had his day before a judge to defend himself against the assault allegations. The DCI has called on members of the public to be patient and wait for verified information from official sources, rather than believing everything they see on social media about the case.
