Saba Saba Detainee Dies from Head Injury at Nanyuki Women’s Prison

The death of a 24-year-old woman, Julia Wangui Wamaitha, while in remand at Nanyuki Women’s Prison, has ignited public anger. 

Wamaitha, a mother of two, died from brain injuries following emergency surgery, days after her arrest during the recent Saba Saba protests in Nanyuki. The circumstances surrounding her death are prompting calls for a thorough investigation and accountability. Wamaitha was among over 100 individuals arrested on 7 July during nationwide demonstrations advocating for political reforms and economic justice. 

She was arraigned the following day, charged with malicious damage to property, and remanded at the Nanyuki facility after failing to raise the Sh50,000 bail. According to prison authorities, she became ill on Tuesday night and was swiftly transported to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital before being transferred to a private hospital for neurosurgery. She died on Thursday afternoon.

Medical reports indicate Wamaitha suffered a brain haemorrhage, with scans revealing compression of the left lateral ventricle and sulcal effacement – signs indicative of severe head trauma. The origin of the injury is currently unclear. Police officials deny any involvement, asserting that Wamaitha was in good health at the time of her arrest and court appearance. A senior officer from Laikipia County suggested any assault must have occurred within the prison, not in police custody.

The National Police Service (NPS) maintains that Wamaitha's death occurred while in remand, not in a police cell, and that she received prompt medical attention upon falling ill. However, her family disputes this account, alleging delays in medical intervention by prison authorities and attempts to attribute her condition to a pre-existing illness. Wamaitha’s grandmother, Ms Susan Rienye, told reporters that officials urged the family to claim she had an underlying health issue, despite her only known condition being duodenal ulcers – an ailment not associated with brain haemorrhages.

The family further alleges significant delays in receiving timely emergency care. They report spending over eight hours at the referral hospital awaiting clearance for transfer to a private facility, despite doctors classifying her condition as critical. This delay, they argue, potentially cost Wamaitha her life. The allegations are intensifying scrutiny of the prison's handling of medical emergencies and the broader issue of detainee welfare.

Wamaitha’s arrest also raises concerns about law enforcement conduct during the protests. Her family asserts she was apprehended while walking home, not actively participating in demonstrations. Her detention occurred near the location where another young protester, James Wambugu, a Form Three student, was fatally shot by police. These incidents are fuelling accusations of excessive force and indiscriminate arrests targeting youth in protest hotspots.

Residents of Likii Estate, where Wamaitha resided, have announced plans to hold demonstrations in Nanyuki Town, demanding justice and transparency in the investigation into her death. Prison authorities have yet to issue a formal statement, with officials in Nairobi reportedly preparing a press release. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reports that at least 38 people were killed and over 130 injured during the Saba Saba protests, the majority under the age of 25.