A postmortem that was expected to establish the cause of Julia Wangui’s death following her arrest during the July 7 Saba Saba protests in Nanyuki has been postponed.
The young mother, 24, reportedly died under unclear circumstances while being held at Nanyuki Remand Prison.
The procedure was called off after the National Police Service denied any involvement in Wangui’s death.
Her family said that it could not proceed with the autopsy without representatives from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).
The results of the postmortem will be key in establishing when and how Wangui sustained injuries that resulted in her death. Both the police and prison wardens have denied assaulting her.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga defended the law enforcers and said that no formal complaint had been recorded regarding the incident.
Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“To date, no formal complaint has been recorded alleging any misconduct whether by commission or omission. Nevertheless, the relevant agencies will conduct swift, transparent, and credible investigations into the matter, and accountability will follow,” Mr Nyaga said in a statement.
He also said that Wangui was among 126 suspects arrested during last week’s Saba Saba protests. All the suspects, including her, were taken court.
Ms Irene Mumbi, an aunt to the late Julia Wangui Wamaitha.
Photo credit: Mwangi Ndirangu | Nation Media Group
The postmortem will now be conducted later this week to find the cause for the brain haemorrhage that killed her.
“We have postponed the postmortem to later this week so that Ipoa officers can be present. We are waiting for them to give us a date,” family’s spokesperson, Ms Susan Rienye, said.
She also said that the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (Imlu) had already dispatched an officer and that the Law Society of Kenya would also be represented.
She spoke as tension remained high in Nanyuki town where heavily armed police officers clashed with youths attempting to stage demonstrations demanding justice for Wangui and James Wambugu, who also died at the hands of law enforcement.
The police fired into the air and lobbed teargas canisters at the demonstrators to prevent them from regrouping and marching into town.
Locals accused the police of throwing teargas into a densely populated informal settlement, which severely affected children and elderly people.
Some businesses remained closed due to fears of looting, while panicked parents rushed to pick up their children from school.
County Police Commander Mwangi Kimani had earlier vowed to deploy officers to crush any planned protests.
“The protesters did not notify the OCS and hence we shall not allow them to disrupt businesses in town. Our officers are out there to maintain order and prevent criminals from vandalising or looting property,” Mr Kimani said.
Parents stormed five primary schools and demanded the release of their children to avoid being caught up in the demonstrations.
The protesters had gathered at the same spot in Likii Estate where Wangui was arrested last Monday. She died two days later at Nanyuki Prison from suspected injuries. It is also the same location where Wambugu, 23, was allegedly shot during the Saba Saba protests. He later died from his injuries.
After her arrest, Julia was held at the Nanyuki Police Station. Fellow inmates, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed she was assaulted by officers.
On July 8 when Wangui was taken to court, upon taking a plea, she was granted a cash bail of Sh50,000. However, she was unable to post bail and was remanded in custody.
On July 10, Wangui collapsed while in custody. She was taken to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, then transferred to Nanyuki Cottage Hospital for emergency head surgery. She did not survive the operation.
“She was wearing a T-shirt though I don’t remember the colour—and navy blue shorts. She told me she came from Likii area,” one of the victim’s held in the same cell as Ms Wangui recalled.
Youth activists are now calling for an end to extrajudicial killings. Speaking at the Karen Country Club on Sunday afternoon, Wanjira Wanjiru, spokesperson for the Nairobi Chapter of the Social Justice Movement, condemned Ms Wangui’s death while in custody.
She linked the death to a troubling pattern of similar killings, including that of Albert Ojwang, calling for swift and firm justice.
The activists accused the state of normalising police brutality and warned that young people across the country would no longer remain silent.
