TURASHA, NYANDARUA — What began as a routine arrest in Kipipiri has ended in public outcry, after a 44-year-old man was found dead inside a police cell. The incident has raised sharp questions about the conduct of officers at Turasha Police Station and the country’s wider struggle with accountability in law enforcement.
The deceased, identified as Ruigi Ndubi, was arrested on Monday for allegedly obstructing police officers on duty. Authorities say he appeared drunk at the time.
But just hours after being taken into custody, he was discovered dead inside the cell. Police claim he used his shirt to hang himself from a padlock attached to the inner door.
The case report, seen by Citizen Digital, reads: “One suspect namely Simon Thumbi, aged about 44 years, had been arrested… and placed in custody… He appeared to be drunk… At 12:46 p.m., during a routine check, he was found hanging inside the cell.”
However, confusion surrounds both the identity of the deceased and the cause of death. The name listed in the report Simon Thumbi does not match the name given by the family, who insist the man who died is Ruigi Ndubi.
And it’s not the only inconsistency.
The family says the position of the body did not support the suicide claim.
“He was found with his knees on the ground. The cell door is too low for someone to hang themselves the way they’re saying,” said Simon Irungu, a relative who spoke to Inooro TV. “We don’t even know who picked him up. He was walking to the shops, then we heard he was dead.”
Protests broke out in Turasha, as angry residents demanded justice. Some lit fires on the roadside, while others gathered at the police station, chanting slogans against police violence.
Local leaders quickly rallied behind the family. Isaac Mbae, the Member of County Assembly for Githioro Ward, questioned the official story.
“The explanation doesn’t add up,” Mbae told reporters. “We are calling on IPOA and the DCI to investigate this case independently.”
Wanjiku Muhia, the area MP, condemned what she described as a rising trend of police brutality across the country.
“We cannot live in a society where the police, who are meant to protect us, are the same people we fear the most,” she said. Muhia also demanded transparency in the upcoming postmortem and vowed to block any attempt to rush the findings.
Kenya’s police oversight bodies, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), have been urged to move swiftly to ensure justice is served.
The incident comes amid ongoing national debates around police reform and the need for stronger oversight. A recent report by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) warned of a “longstanding culture of impunity” within police ranks one that critics say continues to cost lives.
As Ndubi’s family prepares for burial, they are not just grieving. They’re demanding answers, accountability, and a system that works for the people not against them.
