A human rights lobby has demanded an urgent investigation after a 24-year-old student allegedly died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody at Kiambu Police Station.
Rights organisation Vocal Africa is now calling on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch an immediate probe into the death of Brian Njung’e, a Kiambu Polytechnic student whose family disputes police claims that he died by suicide inside the cells.
According to the organisation, Brian was arrested on May 21 in the Kirigiti area of Kiambu Town under circumstances that remain unclear.
Speaking after the incident, Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid questioned why the young student had been detained in the first place, saying the family had received little information from officers.
“Brian called his mother from the police cell at around 9am after his arrest,” Khalid said. “The family rushed to the station before noon hoping to see him, but they were repeatedly asked to wait.”
The family reportedly remained at the station for hours seeking answers before receiving devastating news at around 2pm.
“Police officers informed them that Brian had allegedly died by suicide while inside the cell,” Khalid added.
Police are said to have told the family that Brian had been left alone after other detainees were taken to court. However, questions continue to mount over how the student allegedly took his own life inside the police cell.
The family has strongly rejected the police account and is demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The case has reignited public outrage over a growing number of deaths reported in police custody across Kenya, with rights groups warning of what they describe as a disturbing pattern of unexplained fatalities.
According to reports by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), at least 17 deaths were recorded in police custody between 2024 and 2025.
Among the most high-profile cases was that of Albert Omondi Ojwang, who reportedly died in May 2025 while being held at Central Police Station in Nairobi over allegations of publishing false information online.
Another controversial case involved 23-year-old Jack Leon Matoke, who died hours after being booked into Kawangware Police Station in December 2025.
Police claimed Matoke had hanged himself using his T-shirt, despite reports indicating he was still wearing full motorcycle riding gear at the time his body was discovered.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over alleged torture, suffocation and physical assault in police custody.
According to previous IMLU reports, several deaths were linked to cardiorespiratory failure and cardiogenic shock caused by multiple injuries — findings that activists say point to possible abuse while in detention.
For many grieving families, justice remains elusive.
Also Read: Irish Embassy Announces New Visa System for Kenyans