A man, who had just been convicted of murder, has died in Murang'a GK Prison. The post-mortem report showed that Joseph Wanyoike Kinyanjui was strangled.
Kinyanjui and Alex Odhiambo, an Administration Police officer, were on February 6 found guilty of killing Henry Wachira at Kora market, Mathioya Constituency, five years ago by the Murang’a High Court. Kinyanjui, who was visiting his brother at Kora AP post, joined his co-accused at a bar.
The two beat up some locals at the shopping centre after a row erupted between locals and the police officer.
After Justice Kanyi Kimondo found the two guilty of murder, Kinyanjui started his sentence at Murang’a GK Prison only to be killed after three days at the facility.
After his death on Saturday night, a prison warder reported to Murang'a Police Station that an inmate had died at the prison’s dispensary where he was receiving treatment for ''alcohol withdrawal syndrome''.
According to the OB number 24/9/2/2020, Kinyanjui, aged 35, had no physical injuries save for traces of blood around the nasal area and excrement on the buttocks.
“The inmate died while receiving treatment at the prison dispensary; he was a known alcohol addict and had symptoms of ''withdrawal syndrome''. He had no physical injury but had traces of blood around the nasal region and had human faeces around the buttocks,” reads the OB seen by the Nation.
However, the post-mortem report indicated that the inmate was strangled. His family has blamed the prison for the death of their kin.
“The body of our brother had injuries and his neck was twisted; he died a painful death, contrary to the prison’s version. He had injuries on his face, he might have been hit with a blunt object. The post-mortem report showed that he was strangled. We feel there is [an] attempted cover-up to deny our last-born brother justice,” Ms Ann Wambui told the Nation.
According to Ms Wambui, her brother had never had problems with alcohol and had never complained of ''withdrawal syndrome''.
“We have intelligence that on the fateful night, he kept on screaming but he was never helped by the officers on duty. One of his hands was dislocated, let the authorities reveal the murderers,” Ms Wambui said.
But the officer in charge of Murang’a GK Prison Peter Kubende said the version of strangulation only emerged after the post-mortem was conducted. He said the matter now lies with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“I was away but I was briefed that an inmate complained of [alcohol] withdrawal [syndrome] symptoms; the strangulation version only emerged on Friday after his death, we hope that the DCI will unravel the mystery,” Mr Kubende told the Nation.
He said the inmate’s cell had 25 others who are serving murder and robbery with violence sentences. He said the inmates will be interrogated over the death of their colleague.
“He reported at the facility on February 6 and, the following day, he exhibited [alcohol] withdrawal [syndrome] symptoms; he was taken to the prison dispensary and treated and taken back to the cells.'' On Sunday morning, the officer on duty, upon his routine inspection, found the inmate dead,” Mr Kubende said.
