A family in Nanyuki is mourning the death of their kin, who reportedly lost her life following a suspected assault while in police custody.
The woman, identified as Julie Njoki, was arrested on Monday, July 7, during the Saba Saba demonstrations and taken to Nanyuki Police Station.
In a painful and lengthy statement, Njoki's aunt claimed that her niece was brutally beaten by police officers at the station and left unconscious.
“Julie was arrested in Nanyuki, a town I once thought was peaceful. The next day, she was taken to the Nanyuki Law Court, and judgment was passed. That same night, in police custody, she was brutally beaten. The same people who are meant to protect her left her unconscious,” Njoki's aunt wrote.
According to the family, Julie was taken to the hospital, and a medical report revealed that she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, consistent with physical assault.
The family claims that police delayed treatment and attempted to conceal the extent of her injuries.
“This critical condition was met with delays, carelessness, and silence. By the time real help came, it was too late. We lost Julie. She didn’t deserve to die. No one does,” the aunt continued.
The family has expressed their disappointment in the police system, which, instead of protecting its people, was killing them.
“I’m broken. I’m angry. I’m grieving. How do you jail a Gen Z on Monday and report them dead by Wednesday? How are we supposed to trust a system that kills the very people it’s meant to protect?” the aunt exclaimed.
Her death has sparked fresh outrage among Kenyans, who are still reeling from the recent death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody at Nairobi Central Police Station.
A section of leaders and members of the public have taken to social media to condemn the continued cases of police brutality that are claiming the lives of Kenyan youth.
As the country mourns yet another young life lost, the spotlight is once again on the police force, which has yet to comment on the allegations, and whether justice will finally be served.
