Officers quizzed over teacher’s death

By Ally Jamah and Augustine Oduor

 

By Six police officers are being questioned over the mysterious death of a teacher three days ago after he was released from Kiambu Police Station cells.

Police Spokesperson Eric Kiraithe said Thursday, that the six officers who arrested John Muturi Kariuki, 47 on the night of 14th and 15th are being probed together with the OCS Kiambu Police Station.

“We are also waiting for the medical and autopsy reports from Kenyatta National Hospital to determine the cause of the death. We are taking it as a criminal investigation,” he said.

Also being questioned are other suspects who shared a cell with the deceased. Police say Kariuki was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and booked along with seven others into a cell with 60 other suspects.

He taught Biology and Chemistry at Loreto Girls High School, Kiambu.

Kiraithe said that all stages of the investigations would be accessible by family members to remove any suspicions of a police cover up.

“If any officer is found to have committed a crime in respect to this death, he will be dismissed and prosecuted. The investigations will be fast and transparent,” Kiraithe assured.

Kiraithe revealed that a note made on the Occurrence Book at the station indicated that Kariuki “appeared unwell” on his release.

It is not clear at what point the late teacher was injured.

 

Did not improve

“Later that morning, he was admitted to Kiambu District Hospital. But his condition did not improve and he was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) called for the arrest and prosecution of police officers who allegedly detained and tortured the teacher.

In a petition to Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, the union’s national governing council said the teacher later succumbed to alleged overnight torture at the station.

Knut National Chairman Wilson Sossion and Deputy Secretary General Xavier Nyamu presented a protest letter to Saitoti’s office at Harambee House, Nairobi.

The letter was copied to the Attorney General, Commissioner of Police, Director of Public Prosecutions, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Ministry of Education.