Kakamega Man Dies in Police Custody Hours After Arrest, Family Demands Probe

A cloud of suspicion hangs over Budonga Police Post following the death of 33-year-old Raymond Nachibati, who died shortly after being detained.

His family vehemently disputes the official police account, alleging a cover-up and calling for an independent, transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his demise. The case intensifies the spotlight on the recurrent issue of custodial deaths in Kenya and raises pressing questions about police accountability and the safeguards protecting vulnerable individuals within the system.

The controversy centres on the events of Saturday afternoon, when Nachibati was arrested following reports of a domestic dispute at Malaha market. Police reports indicate he was booked into custody around 3pm and discovered dead less than two hours later. Police Commander Mohammed Hassan suggests suicide as the cause of death, adding that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) are carrying out a joint examination into the incident.

The implication that Nachibati, described as being drunk at the time of arrest, took his own life has been met with disbelief and anger by the victim's family. Sylvanus Waswa and Ibrahim Barasa, Nachibati’s brothers, question the selective nature of the arrests.

"We suspect foul play," Waswa said, highlighting the fact that while his brother, his wife, and her brother were all apprehended in connection with the altercation, only Nachibati was confined to a cell.

This inconsistency, they argue, points to a potential lapse in protocol, or worse, a deliberate act of injustice. Their father, Anderson Makokha, expresses his deep sorrow, lamenting the fact that a domestic matter, which he believes could have been resolved within the family, has escalated into a tragedy.

The situation's complexity is further compounded by details provided by Nachibati's mother, Esther Khaemba. She revealed that her son had remarried after separating from his first wife. The initial wife allegedly initiated an attack on the second wife which led to the involvement of her brothers and eventually the police.

Nachibati's body lies at the Kakamega County General Hospital mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination. His family has understandably postponed funeral arrangements, signalling their commitment to uncovering the truth.