“The Prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the police caused the deceased suffering while in cells which caused his death.”
These were the final words of Judge Stella Mutuku in a landmark ruling that spelt punishment by death for former police boss, Nahashon Mutua.
What really happened?
- October 19, 2013, at Baba Dogo Estate in Nairobi, Martin Manyara has a domestic altercation with wife. He had earlier attempted to strangle their child, an incidence that threatened the fabric of their very union.
- Neighbours get wind of the fracas after word goes round that Martin has chased the spouse.
- Police are alerted and they swing into action. They storm the house and arrest Martin. He is detained at Ruaraka Police station and booked with attempted murder.
BRUTALITY INSIDE THE CELL
- Inside the cell, police clobber Martin with a metal bar several times on the head.
- When he faints, the OCS immerses his head into a bucket of cold water, making Martin to gasp for air.
- As he attempts to lift his head from the bucket to avoid suffocation, OCS Mutua strikes his head with metal bar and dips Martin’s head into the bucket severally.
“How can a police officer of his rank not know that the kind of brutality he used would result into death,” quipped Mutuku, adding: “I find him guilty as charged and convict him accordingly.
- Next day, wife goes to check Martin at Ruaraka Police station. She is told he fell ill and was transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital.
Motionless body
- Apprehensive, the woman dashes off to Kenyatta only to find a motionless, unattended husband on a bench.
- His clothes are soaked in blood, head swollen and blood oozing from the ears. He is growling in pain.
- Martin dies hours later being attended by doctors.
- A case that later leads to the sentencing of the OCS to death is initiated.