Policeman arrested for killing a 62-yr-old man in cell

Police officers are investigating the killing of an elderly man inside a police station on Sunday in Kakamega County.

Benson Waluvengo Benjamin, 62, died at the Kabras Police Station on the same day he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

The deceased was arrested on Sunday at about 3am at Litungu Bar and Restaurant in Malava town over claims that he had assaulted Constable Elisha Arunga, who is attached to the Kakamega North Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

Corporal Alois Nzuki reported that he heard some commotion from the station’s report office and on checking he found that the arresting officer had hit the suspect on the head with a hoe handle.

The injured suspect was taken to Malava Sub County Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police headquarters told K24 Digital that the offending officer was arrested and will be charged with murder once investigations are complete.

The murder comes barely a fortnight after a post-mortem revealed that another man, Erick Nyariki Nyaboe, who police claimed had committed suicide inside the cell at Zimmerman Administration Police post was actually assaulted to death while in custody.

The officers initially staged a scene to appear like the suspect had committed suicide by hanging himself.

Increase in police killings

Already, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) has recommended murder charges against 15 officers, a chief and his assistant following investigations into several cases reported across the country.

The files and recommendations have already been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for directions following months of investigations.

According to a recent Ipoa report, among the officers to be charged with murder are AP Constable Patrick Nyapara who investigations linked to the fatal shooting of Christine Naututu Maonga in March 2019, and Constable Bernard Gachau formerly of North Horr Police Station for assaulting to death, Ali Sora Bonaya.

Also recommended to be charged with murder is an AP officer attached to Waithaka Police Post for the fatal shooting of David Kariuki at Waithaka shopping centre in May 2018.

Ipoa has also written to the DPP to substitute the charges of manslaughter with murder in a case where a police officer, Alfred Odhiambo, based at Dandora Police Station shot and killed Samuel Mwangi Ndungu in April 2016.