The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has detailed the events leading up to the death of a suspect who was found hanging inside a police cell in Nyeri County.
The suspect, identified as Dennis Aremo Osiemo, was found dead on Sunday, September 20, while being held at Narumoru Police Station, prompting public concern over the circumstances surrounding his death.
Following the incident, questions were raised over why Osiemo was being detained in Nyeri after detectives had traced and arrested him in Kisii County.
The DCI said Osiemo had been arrested over an assault causing actual bodily harm case that had been reported at Narumoru Police Station.
According to investigators, the case dates back to July 2, 2026, when Osiemo, who had previously worked as a farmhand for the complainant, allegedly went to her home, attacked her and stabbed her several times before escaping.
“The incident was reported at Narumoru Police Station, where the complainant was admitted to Tumutumu Hospital for nine days,” the DCI said.
The DCI later took over the investigation after the complainant raised concerns about how the case was being handled with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Nanyuki. The ODPP subsequently directed investigators to proceed with the case.
Detectives later traced Osiemo to Kisii County, where investigators believe he had been hiding. He was arrested on September 18.
After his arrest, Osiemo was initially booked at Keroka Police Station as detectives from Kieni East made arrangements to collect him.
He was subsequently transferred to Narumoru Police Station on September 19. The DCI said he was processed at the station, recorded his statement and was then taken back to the cells.
“The suspect was observed to be normal and was scheduled to be arraigned before court on Monday, September 21, 2026,” the DCI said.
However, on Sunday, September 20, two days after his arrest, officers discovered Osiemo hanging from ventilation grills inside the police cell, according to investigators.
The scene was processed in the presence of officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), senior police officers and a relative of the deceased.
His body was subsequently moved to Narumoru Mortuary, where it is being held pending a postmortem examination.
IPOA has since taken over investigations into the death. The DCI said it would cooperate with the independent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding Osiemo's death.
