Relatives accuse cops of torturing Tala man to death

Police have distanced themselves from claims that they were involved in Tala man, Abubakar Nduva Muli’s death.

Muli died a day after he was arrested over death threats allegations by his ex-girlfriend.  

Matungulu subcounty police commander Monica Kimani said officers involved in his arrest handled the matter professionally.

Kimani spoke to reporters at her office in KBC police station, Matungulu, Machakos on Friday.

The commander said the deceased had been sought for after his ex – girlfriend Jennifer Kithini reported that he had threatened to kill her. She said Kithini had reported the complaints several times.

“On September 17, the same complainant, his ex-girlfriend came back to the police station to report another threat. The accused person being the same ex-boyfriend,” Kimani said.

She said they took the matter seriously and at around midnight the suspect was spotted along Tala – Kangundo road next to Eastmatt supermarket.

“Our mobile team moved in to make an arrest. On seeing our officers, he immediately drunk from his water bottle. We were not able to verify  contents of the water bottle because the bottle was discarded,” Kimani said.

The commander added, “The suspect was apprehended and taken to Tala police station. On arrival, as he was being booked, he told the officers that he had taken some kind of acid.

"The officers rushed him to Kangundo Level 4 hospital where he was given first aid and referred to Kenyatta National Hospital.

“Muli was hospitalised at Kenyatta National Hospital on September 18 but unfortunately succumbed the following day.

"So, I would say the officers handled the matter in a human way, in that even before the suspect was taken to Kenyatta, they had located his home and informed the parents,” Kimani said.

She added, “Immediately after the suspect died, we launched our investigations on the case and IPOA officers joined in. They are conducting independent investigations as per their mandate.”

Kimani said the 35–year–old man’s murder threats case had been thoroughly investigated and the file was ready to be taken to court when he died.

The deceased’s family has, however, accused the police of foul play claiming Muli died on their hands.

His mother Margaret Nduva questioned her son’s jacket’s whereabouts. She says she was only given the deceased’s mobile phone, mask and shoes by medics at Kangundo Level 4 hospital and told he was at KNH.

“Some police officers came to my home on September 18 at 4.30 am. They informed me that my son had been taken to Kangundo Level 4 hospital but was later referred to Kenyatta, only for us to find his body lying at City mortuary," Nduva said.

The deceased mother said the officers who visited her home informed her that the deceased had consumed acid while in police cell.

“I asked where the acid had come from in the police cells but no one answered me,” she said.

She said she wasn’t shown any OB indicating her son’s arrest.

On September 17, the suspect was arrested by Tala police officers while drinking at a popular bar within the town in Matungulu subcounty.

The deceased’s family accuse the police of torturing him thus causing his death.

One of Muli’s cousins said the night the deceased was arrested, he went to check on him at Tala police station only to be told that he had been released.

The police pointed at a figure in the dark and when he went to check he realised that wasn't his cousin.

He said on coming back, he heard groaning noises as if someone was being tortured but on trying to ask what was going on he was asked to leave right away.

To his shock, he later heard that his cousin had been rushed to the hospital where he died, police claim he had committed suicide.

Nduva called for her son’s justice as they await a postmortem.

"He left home hale and hearty and I was surprised to see police officers telling me my son was hospitalised.

"He was helping me a lot considering that I am a widow and have raised these children alone," Nduva said.

(Edited Bilha Makokha)