Eldoret: 2 Police Officers Convicted for Killing Man, Dumping Body in River Nzoia to Be Sentenced
- An Eldoret court is set to deliver justice to the family of a man who was tortured to death in police custody by two officers
- Investigations detailed a chilling account of what led to the disturbing actions of the uniformed officers, which prompted their conviction
- The victim's family expressed relief and urged that the conviction serve as a lesson to rogue officers who assault suspects while in custody
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Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Eldoret: Two police officers convicted of torturing and murdering a suspect are scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, July 28.
Source: Twitter
Earlier, High Court Judge Reuben Nyakundi, while ruling on the case, found Police Constable Reuben Yator and Godwine Wekesa Sirengo guilty of murdering Dennis Lusava, marking a major step toward accountability for custodial deaths in Kenya.
Lusava was last seen in their custody before his body was discovered in the River Nzoia.
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The sentencing, initially scheduled for July 19 following the July 4 conviction, was postponed due to the absence of mitigation submissions.
What happened before Dennis Lusava's killing?
The court heard that on October 4, 2022, Lusava had a confrontation with the two officers in Mbururu town, which was interrupted by members of the public.
Three days later, in an apparent act of retaliation, the officers reportedly used an acquaintance to lure Lusava to Mbururu Police Post, where he was apprehended and 'handcuffed to a window.'
While in custody, Lusava, then 21 years old, was brutally assaulted using blows, kicks, and electric cables. His mother, Agnes Ambale, visited the station and found him seriously injured.
Despite her pleas, she was told to return with KSh 2,000 for his release. Later, Lusava attempted to seek medical attention but was forcibly brought back to the police post.
A doctor who testified in court recalled hearing his cries of pain before he fell silent.
The officers then allegedly transported Lusava’s body to Webuye, where they dumped it in River Nzoia. They also falsified the police occurrence book, claiming he had been released.
His body was recovered on October 11 and identified by his family.
A post-mortem revealed extensive injuries, including multiple bruises and trauma, leading to circulatory failure.
Dennis Lusava's family lauds conviction of officers
The investigators launched a probe that led to the arrest and prosecution of the two officers. The case featured 21 witnesses and 27 exhibits.
Janice Muchemi, an advocate from International Justice Mission (IJM), which represented the victim’s family, hailed the ruling as a significant milestone in the fight against police impunity.
IJM Country Director Vincent Chahale welcomed the conviction, citing a growing number of deaths in police custody and expressing hope that this verdict would deter future abuses by law enforcement officers.
Source: Twitter
Nakuru policeman jailed for killing his boss
Elsewhere, a Nakuru-based police officer, Jackson Konga, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his senior, Sergeant Christopher Kimeli.
The incident occurred at the K9 Unit in Nakuru East sub-county following a heated altercation between them.
Witnesses testified that Konga cocked his firearm and left the reporting office, and when Kimeli followed, he turned and shot him.
However, Konga claimed the shooting happened during a scuffle after Kimeli allegedly insulted him and tried to grab his weapon.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
