A family in Chasimba village, Kilifi South Constituency in Kilifi County is seeking justice after their 42-year-old kin reportedly died under unclear circumstances at Chasimba police station cells in Chonyi Sub-County.
It is alleged the deceased, Isaack Ngombo Lewa, used ‘a boxer’ to commit suicide inside the police cells but his family suspects foul play as it claims he had injuries in the back of his body.
Officials are puzzled how that would be possible and investigations are ongoing.
He had been arrested in a case of attempted arson reportedly involving the deceased and another resident of Chasimba on
December 31 before it turned tragic following the death which occurred on January 2.
The deceased’s wife, Pauline Okeyo, said she visited Chonyi police station to give her husband food only to find him dead after officers who were on duty laughed at her when she asked them to call him so that she can give him food.
She said one of the officers later took her to the police cells where she found her husband lying with a hand folded and foam coming from his mouth.
Upon examining further, she found a boxer on her husband’s neck which is what is suspected to have been used to commit suicide.
The deceased’s wife relies on odd jobs including washing clothes for the officers at the Chonyi police station.
Human rights organizations led by Haki Africa and Pwani Social Justice also visited the family to try and find out exactly what transpired from the family before they visited the police station terming the death so shocking for a person to commit suicide allegedly using a boxer.
Lewa Tinga, the deceased’s father said his son was arrested for allegedly attempted arson and that’s the last time he saw him adding that justice must prevail for the family.
Simon Kaingu from Pwani Social Justice also said it was sad that a life was lost in police custody under unclear circumstances and called on authorities to take action.
He said this is the fourth case of suicide to be recorded in Kilifi County.
The body of the deceased is lying at the Kilifi County hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem.
Investigations into the mysterious death are underway even as the family hopes they will lift the lid on exactly what transpired leading to the loss of their loved one.
