Court opens inquest into inmate's death in police custody

Mark Okinda,28, who was allegedly died at Bondo police cell on Tuesday morning. [Courtesy, Okinda's Family]

A Bondo court has begun an inquest into the death of Vitalis Okinda, 38, after allegedly being tortured in police custody in January 2022.

Resident Magistrate Christabel Maiyo is presiding over the inquiry ordered by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, following recommendations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

IPOA recommended that Constable James Ngariba Beneti be charged with murder, while Constable Winston Obare Odhiambo and Sergeant Richard Kipsang Langat face charges of negligence.

Then Bondo OCS, Chief Inspector Francis Muungani, was cited for dereliction of duty. On the first day of the hearing, George Odola, a security guard, testified that Okinda had gone for a Covid-19 jab at Bondo Sub-County Hospital but later became unruly.