Family Seeks Probe into Death of Man Allegedly Injured in Police Custody in Makueni
The deceased, Moses Maingi, is said to have died from injuries allegedly inflicted by police officers following his arrest on January 8, 2026. According to the family, Maingi was apprehended after the owner of Oasis Bar reported him for disorderly conduct, accusing him of opening the bar’s door and allowing patrons to leave without paying
By : Mweru Mbugua
A family from Tusunini village in Makueni County is demanding investigations into the death of a 28-year-old man who allegedly sustained fatal injuries while in police custody
The deceased, Moses Maingi, is said to have died from injuries allegedly inflicted by police officers following his arrest on January 8, 2026. According to the family, Maingi was apprehended after the owner of Oasis Bar reported him for disorderly conduct, accusing him of opening the bar’s door and allowing patrons to leave without paying
Maingi was taken to Nunguni Police Station, where he was detained. The bar owner allegedly demanded Ksh.20,000 as compensation for damages, a sum the family says they were unable to raise. Following the intervention of a friend who spoke to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Maingi was released on condition that he would later report back to the station
Julius Mwau, Maingi’s elder brother, says he went to pick him up from the station and found him unconscious. He claims that for more than 12 hours, Maingi neither spoke nor ate. The family then took him to Kilungu Sub-County Hospital, where he was referred to Machakos Level Five Hospital. However, they opted to seek treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
After failing to secure admission at KNH, the family took Maingi to a private hospital, where a CT scan reportedly revealed a blood clot in his head. He was treated and discharged with instructions to return for a review after a few days
On January 21, his condition deteriorated, and he was rushed back to Kilungu Sub-County Hospital, where he later died
The family is now seeking answers over what transpired during Maingi’s detention at Nunguni Police Station. They also claim that police declined to issue his mother, Ruth Mwau, with an occurrence book (OB) number when she sought to report the matter
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They have called on relevant government agencies to conduct thorough investigations and ensure accountability for anyone found responsible
However, Kilungu Sub-County Police Commander Patrick Muthengi has dismissed claims that officers assaulted Maingi, stating that ongoing investigations and a postmortem examination will determine the actual cause of death
Maingi’s body is currently lying at Kilungu Sub-County Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem
