Authorities in Homa Bay County have launched investigations into the death of a 36-year-old fisherman who allegedly died by suicide while in custody at Kipasi Police Post in Mbita Sub-County.
Calvins Omondi Onditi was found dead in his cell on Sunday morning, hours after being arrested around midnight. Police claim he used his trousers to take his own life. Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem suggested guilt may have driven Mr Omondi to suicide.
A police report says the fisherman was found with his trousers down inside a goat pen in Ndhuru village, prompting alarm among residents, who alerted the local chief. The chief then called the police, who arrested and detained Mr Omondi at Kipasi Police Post.
“Perhaps he felt ashamed of facing his community after the incident. He fashioned a noose from his trousers and took his life,” said Mr Koilem.
Homa Bay: Police investigate death of fisherman in a holding cell in Mbita
But the family disputes the suicide claim. They admit Mr Omondi had trespassed into someone’s compound but say he was of sound character and therefore suspect foul play.
Originally from Kodiera in Ndhiwa, Mr Omondi had moved to Ndhuru to work as a fisherman and was married and had two children.
His cousin Geoffrey Ochieng Ouma, who was at the scene, said Omondi appeared intoxicated at the time of his arrest.
“He told us he had been placed in the pen and it wasn’t intentional. The farmer raised no complaint, nothing was stolen, and he even knew Omondi personally,” said Mr Ouma.
Mr Omondi was taken to Kipasi Police Post nearly three hours after his arrest. Some family members accompanied him but left shortly after, intending to return in the morning. When they returned, officers told them that Omondi had been transferred to Mbita Police Station as part of routine operations.
“We were told it was standard procedure and believed them,” said Mr Ouma.
However, as the family made their way to Mbita, they received a call instructing them to return to Kipasi. Upon arrival, they were told Mr Omondi had died in custody. They were asked to consent to have the body taken to the mortuary, but refused, insisting that close relatives be present. Despite their objections, officers removed the body that afternoon.
At Kipasi Police Post, suspects are held in a small room adjacent to the report office before being moved to Mbita. The family believes there was no valid reason for Mr Omondi to be detained for so long or alone.
Mr Koilem confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had been assigned to look into the matter and that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) had been notified.
The incident sparked unrest in the Kipasi area, with residents gathering outside the police post in protest as officers struggled to control the crowd. The body was later taken to the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary.
Omondi’s uncle, Mr Owino Achieng, also accused the police of deception and called for accountability.
“Why was the body moved before his parents arrived? We rushed there immediately after hearing the news, only to find the officers gone. Even at the mortuary, they were nowhere to be seen,” he said.
Dr Vincent Oduor, Chief Executive Officer of the referral hospital, confirmed that a post-mortem examination would determine the exact cause of death.
“There were visible bruises around the neck,” he noted.
