By Magati Bw'Obebo
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued an account of the circumstances surrounding the death of Dennis Aremo Osiemo, who died while in police custody at Narumoru Police Station.
The DCI said Osiemo had been arrested in connection with an assault case in which he was accused of attacking and stabbing a woman at her home in Narumoru on July 2, 2026.
According to the investigators, the complainant, who was allegedly assaulted several times, was admitted to Tumutumu Hospital, where she remained for nine days.
The matter was later raised with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Nanyuki over concerns about its handling.
The ODPP subsequently directed that the case be taken over by the DCI.
The case file was forwarded to the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer in Kieni East on September 3, prompting detectives to begin tracing Osiemo, who had reportedly gone into hiding in Kisii.
With the assistance of the SCCIO, Masaba North, DCI officers from Kieni East arrested Osiemo in Kisii on September 18.
He was initially booked at Keroka Police Station before being collected by detectives and transferred to Narumoru Police Station, where he was booked on September 19.
The DCI said Osiemo was processed and his statement recorded on the same day before he was returned to the cells after being observed to be in normal condition.
He was due to appear in court on Monday, September 21, over the assault allegations.
However, on Sunday, September 20, Osiemo was found hanging from ventilation grills inside his cell.
The DCI said the scene was immediately processed in the presence of officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), senior police officers and a relative.
His body was subsequently moved to Narumoru mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
The investigation into the death has since been taken over by IPOA, with the DCI pledging to cooperate fully with the independent oversight body.
The circumstances of deaths occurring in police custody often attract heightened public scrutiny, making the independent investigation and post-mortem key to establishing what happened.
The DCI has urged members of the public to rely on verified information as investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Osiemo's death.
The agency also conveyed its condolences to Osiemo's family, relatives and friends, saying it remained committed to a transparent process.
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