Police accused of torturing jailed man to death

By Osinde Obare

Controversy has erupted in Pokot County over the death of a man in a police cell with his family alleging brutal torture by officers.

Local OCPD David Wambua, however, denied police had a hand in the death of John Kingori, 25, and said the man committed suicide.

Kingori was arrested from a local bar on Tuesday evening after allegedly stealing from a customer.

According to the OCPD, the man committed suicide using his shirt.

“Our officers heard a commotion in the cell and when they opened it, found the man had taken his life,” said Wambua.

But relatives accused the officers of beating their kin to death after accusing him of not being cooperative.

Kingori’s sister, Monica Wairimu, said police were giving contradictory statements saying that when she went to inquire about the death at the patrol base, she was told that Kingori committed suicide using his belt.