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Outrage in Gatundu South after man dies in police custody
11th October, 2025 11:01 PM
Fury has engulfed Kiganjo village in Gatundu South following the death of a 30-year-old man in police custody, in an incident that has sparked outrage and renewed calls for accountability within the police service.
Officers arrested Paul Njuguna on suspicion of bhang possession, and he reportedly died shortly after. However, conflicting accounts over the cause of his death have left residents demanding answers, with some accusing the police of brutality and others calling for a transparent investigation.
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Eyewitnesses and locals report that police officers arrested Njuguna on suspicion of drug possession and subsequently beat him.
The residents, who later stormed the local police station in protest, claimed that officers strangled the man to death instead of processing him in accordance with the law.
“They beat people anyhow whenever they arrest you. This is how badly they mistreated me,” said Wachira Kiiru, a local resident who claimed to have previously suffered abuse at the same station and is still nursing injuries.
Another resident, James Karanja, accused the officers of using excessive force during the arrest.
“That man was arrested by the police, and they did not even allow him to touch the ground. They beat him mercilessly instead of taking him to court,” Karanja told journalists.
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Angry villagers quickly escalated the protests, attempting to set the police station ablaze before law enforcement officers dispersed them.
The tension has since remained high in the area, with residents alleging that corruption and brutality have become rampant at the station.
“If you are arrested and taken there, before you even speak, you are compelled to give out money. We don’t know whether they are paid,” lamented Hosea Kamau, another villager.
Demands for justice
Local leaders have also joined the growing chorus for justice, condemning what they termed as the continued abuse of power by police officers.
“It’s sad. The government must ensure the family of Njuguna gets justice. No one should die in police custody,” said Ciku Lui, a community leader.
However, government officials have dismissed the claims of police brutality.
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Gatundu South Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Florence Chege refuted the claims that Njuguna was strangled, insisting that preliminary postmortem results showed he died after swallowing the bhang that was found hidden in a nylon paper.
“The results are out, and they have clearly shown that the suspect swallowed the bhang before the police even conducted a search. During the postmortem, the bhang was recovered and is now an exhibit as investigations continue,” Chege said.
While acknowledging the community’s anger, the DCC urged residents to allow due process to take its course and report any cases of police misconduct to the appropriate government agencies.
“We have not allowed police to mistreat people inside the cells, and they know the law. If you’re arrested, don’t resist, but officers should not beat anyone. If you are mistreated in a police station, you have the right to report,” she added.
