Rights defender disputes police account in death of Simon Warui

Khalid, the CEO of Vocal Africa, said police had told his organisation there was no CCTV camera

by FELIX KIPKEMOI

News23 September 2025 - 19:30

In Summary

“According to the police, this is the wall that Simon scaled then jumped down and died. The wall is of normal height and the floor is tiled,” Khalid said.
According to Khalid, this suggests the account raises serious questions.

Audio By Vocalize

Human rights defender Hussein Khalid has cast doubt on the police explanation surrounding the death of Simon Warui, who was found dead inside Mombasa’s Central Police Station under mysterious circumstances.

Khalid, the CEO of Vocal Africa, said police had told his organisation there was no CCTV camera in the area where Warui allegedly died.

However, he revealed that his team had obtained video footage showing the exact spot, inside the toilet cells, where the incident is said to have happened.

“According to the police, this is the wall that Simon scaled then jumped down and died. The wall is of normal height and the floor is tiled,” Khalid said.

According to Khalid, this suggests the account raises serious questions.

Warui, who had earlier been reported missing in Nairobi, was later discovered to have been detained in Mombasa before his family received news of his death.

His case has stirred public outrage, with rights groups warning against attempts to cover up what they describe as another troubling death in custody.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has already confirmed it has opened investigations into the matter.

The oversight body said it has already gathered the post-mortem report, which attributes Warui’s death to cardiorespiratory collapse caused by a fracture or dislocation of the neck, an outcome consistent with a fall from height.

Ipoa chairperson Issack Hassan said it has initiated comprehensive investigations on the circumstances surrounding his death.

“This is to state that the Ipoa investigation team has already begun collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing police procedures relating to the incident,” he said.

Hassan emphasised that the safety and rights of individuals placed in police custody are paramount and will work diligently to ensure justice is served.

“We assure the public that IPOA will handle this incident with the seriousness it deserves and further extend condolences to the family of the deceased,” Hassan added.

Civil society organisations are now demanding a transparent inquiry and urging the police to take responsibility.

Warui’s death comes as questions remain unresolved in other similar cases, including that of Albert Ojwang, who also died in custody.