Vocal Africa is urging the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the suspicious death of a 24-year-old Kiambu Polytechnic student at Kiambu Police Station.
According to the human rights group, the 24-year-old identified as Brian Njung’e was arrested on May 21 in the Kirigiti area of Kiambu town.
Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid stated it was unclear why Njung’e was detained by police.
According to Khalid, Brian contacted his mother from the police cell at around 9am following his arrest.
Concerned, the family rushed to see him just before noon and upon arrival at the station, the family including the mother requested to see Brian but were asked to wait.
It was not until around 2pm that the family received devastating news from a police officer that their son had died by suicide in the cells.
According to police, Brian was alone in the cell as other cellmates had been taken to court. It is unclear how Brian allegedly took his life, which the family disputes.
The family has disputed the police officers’ account and is now seeking justice for their son.
Brian’s death adds to a grim and growing tally of individuals who died in police custody, only to be returned to their families in body bags.
According to a report from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), 17 deaths have been reported in police custody between 2024 and 2025.
This includes cases like that of Albert Omondi at the Central Police Station in Nairobi while detained on claims of publishing false information.
Also, Jack Leon Matoke, a 23-year-old, was among the many who died in December 2025, hours after being booked into Kawangware Police Station.
Police claimed he hanged himself with his t-shirt, though it was noted that his body was still in full motorcycle gear.
According to IMLU reports for the previous year, some fatalities were linked to cardiorespiratory failure or cardiogenic shock caused by multiple injuries, suggesting possible physical assault, torture or suffocation, and that some deaths were concealed with many families still awaiting justice.