Residents of Sigor town in West Pokot County are demanding answers after the death of Isaac Oudo, a 33-year-old man, who passed away under unclear circumstances while in police custody on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
Oudo had been detained at Sigor Police Station on Tuesday night for accusations of causing a disturbance at a football match in the station’s canteen.
The family says that the police told them that Oudo took his own life using a belt but they are skeptical, suspecting foul play.
The police explanation for Oudo’s death has been met with scepticism and anger from both his family and the local community.
Demonstrations erupted in the town, with Oudo’s family completely rejecting the police’s explanation.
His brother, Abraham Korir, pointed out inconsistencies in the story, noting that Oudo’s belt had been left at the police reception.
“Kama familia sisi tumesitikishwa sana na kifo ya ndugu yetu na hatukua tunatarajia kwamba mtu anaenda kwa cell alafu anapata kifo kwa cell. Information ya polisi hatuwezi tukakubali kwa sababu wanaweza wakeenda wakadistort information,” Abraham Korir said in a media address.
Sigor area Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Lochakapong joined the calls for justice, expressing his frustration over Oudo’s death.
“Natunataka wale ambao hawakufanya kazi ya kwa mujibu ya sheria waletwe kwenye sheria na wapelekwe kortini wafungwe. Kwa sababu hatuwezi kupoteza mtu kwa sababu ya uzembe ya wale ambao wanatakana walinde watu na mali yao,” he said, insisting that those responsible be held accountable.
In response to the public outcry, Pokot Central Sub-County Police Commander Nelson Omwenga called for calm, assuring the community that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had launched an investigation into Oudo’s death.
“Naomba wanainchi wetu hapa watuvumilie ili utaratibu wa hii maneno iendelee IPOA ikija tutajua kiini ya maneno ilitendeka namna gani,” Omwenga said, urging patience as the inquiry continues.
The body of the deceased has been moved to the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital Morgue, where a postmortem is expected to shed more light on the cause of death.
As investigations proceed, the community remains on edge, demanding transparency and accountability from law enforcement.
