Festus Muthui, a 26-year-old man, tragically died in police custody under unclear circumstances after spending four days in detention without being formally charged.
His father, John Mutinda, is now seeking answers about the events surrounding his son’s mysterious death while in police custody.
Muthui was arrested on December 20, 2024, at the Bondeni Police Station in Nakuru, following accusations of defiling a 12-year-old girl.
However, on December 23, his father was contacted by the authorities, who informed him that his son was in severe pain.
When John Mutinda arrived at the station, he found his son with noticeable swellings on his head and body, complaining of headaches and alleging that he had been beaten by the police officers.
The officer in charge demanded a payment of sh 20,000 before allowing Muthui to seek medical care, which the father complied with.
Muthui was then rushed to Nakuru Level 5 Hospital, where he was diagnosed with depression and given medication.
However, despite receiving medical attention, the police rearrested him and returned him to the cells.
“I paid the sh 20,000, but we didn’t complete the release paperwork.
The OCS then sent a police van to rearrest my son after he had been treated,” said John Mutinda.
“By the morning of December 24, my son was still alive, but after being taken back to the station, I later found his lifeless body in the cell.”
According to the family, Muthui’s arrest was partly due to a dispute with his wife over child support, amounting to sh 30,000.
Mutinda claims that he had agreed to pay half of the amount and settle the rest later.
However, when he arrived at the station to finalize the payment, he was met with the heartbreaking sight of his son’s lifeless body.
“I asked what had happened to my son, but many officers walked away without answering,” the grieving father recounted.
The police commander has rejected accusations that medical attention was denied to Muthui, claiming that he received the care he needed.
However, the family’s demand for justice continues as they seek to understand the cause of his untimely death while in custody.
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