- A village in Gatundu South erupted in protest after the alleged murder of resident Paul Njuguna in a police custody
- In an interview, eyewitnesses described a disturbing sequence of events that unfolded during his arrest, hours before his death
- Authorities responded with an official explanation of the cause of Njuguna’s death following a postmortem, but residents remain unconvinced
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Kiambu: A 30-year-old man has died in police custody in the Kiganjo area of Gatundu South, just hours after being arrested for alleged possession of bhang.
Source: Facebook
The death of Paul Njuguna triggered widespread anger among residents, who accused the police officers of brutality and misconduct.
What happened before Paul Njuguna’s death?
According to eyewitnesses, Njuguna was allegedly beaten and strangled by officers during and after his arrest.
Locals claimed he was paraded through the market while being assaulted, causing alarm among traders and passers-by.
“He wasn’t even walking—he was being dragged through the air,” said James Karanja, a Kiganjo resident. “I had to call elders, women, and boda boda riders to witness how they had left him lying there.”
Another resident, Patrick Njoroge, recounted the shock of seeing Njuguna being beaten in public. “They took our man through the entire market, beating him until women were screaming. When we got to the station, we were told he was no longer there,” he said.
Veronica Waruguru added that the officers started assaulting Njuguna immediately after apprehending him. She recalled seeing him tied from behind, not the front.
The situation escalated when angry residents stormed the local police station demanding answers.
Tensions flared as some attempted to set the station ablaze, prompting law enforcement to disperse the crowd.
Protesters accused the police of corruption and excessive force, claiming such incidents have become common at the station.
“They would’ve said our boy disappeared and was found dead somewhere. We’d be told it was thugs, not security. But it’s the very people meant to protect us who are killing us,” Karanja lamented.
Njoroge questioned the justification for the alleged violence, stating, ‘Even if he had a weapon, did he deserve to be beaten to death? What kind of justice is that.’
What caused Paul Njuguna’s death?
In response to the allegations, Gatundu South Deputy County Commissioner Rose Chege denied claims of police brutality.
Source: Facebook
She stated that Njuguna died after choking on bhang that he allegedly tried to swallow to conceal evidence.
“The postmortem revealed that he had wrapped bhang in nylon paper and swallowed it before being searched. It choked him, and the intact package was recovered—it remains an exhibit,” Chege explained.
Despite the official explanation, Chege cautioned police officers against using excessive force during arrests and urged them to uphold the law and respect human rights.
The incident came amid growing cases of police brutality and alleged murders in police custody.
Missing man found at Mama Lucy Hospital mortuary
Elsewhere, Charles Njuguna was found at the Mama Lucy Hospital mortuary after more than a month of searching.
While police claimed he was fatally assaulted by a mob, his family suspected foul play.
His heartbroken mother said witnesses reported that Njuguna was involved in a confrontation with police before one officer allegedly struck him on the head with a G3 rifle.
He collapsed and lost consciousness, after which the police reportedly loaded him into a vehicle along with his motorbike.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
