Nearly two years after a university student died in police custody in Rumuruti township in Laikipia West, the family is still crying for justice.
Geoffrey Otieno Ooko, 31, dropped out of Kenyatta University where he was studying commerce and was arrested on September 9, 2023, for allegedly stealing goods.
However, the two police officers who arrested him did not produce the items he was accused of stealing.
According to police, Ooko fell ill while in custody and died while being taken to Nyahururu Sub-County Referral Hospital.
His family disputed this theory and demanded an investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of their firstborn son.
A post-mortem conducted by Dr Ngulungu Titus at the Nyahururu Sub-County Referral Hospital mortuary revealed that Geoffrey died from head injuries.
Almost two years after Geoffrey’s death, his family and friends have not had closure.
According to his father Andrew Onyango, the family members recorded statements with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) in September 2023 but the investigations have not been concluded.
“IPOA officials recorded statements from me, my wife and eyewitnesses but nearly two years later, IPOA has not concluded the investigations while the police officers we suspect were involved in the murder of my firstborn son have been transferred from Rumuruti to Nairobi,” said Mr Onyango.
“IPOA should expedite this case because it has all the evidence. As a family, we're determined to find out who killed our son.” There is even a CCTV footage showing how my son was arrested by two police officers at a nightclub in Rumuruti Township yet the matter is still dragging at IPOA.”
He said one of the police officers, who was wearing civilian clothes when they arrested his son, has since been transferred from Rumuruti to Kasarani Police Station in Nairobi.
“I’m shocked after 17 months of investigations, no one has ever been charged and the matter has not been referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP),” he said.
“These police officers are known. Why is IPOA dragging its feet? Some of the witnesses may relocate from Rumuruti and this would complicate the matter further. I’m growing old and anything might happen because God’s plans are unknown to human beings.”
“I need justice now for my son before I join my maker. I’m a troubled man. I have never known peace since my son was brutally murdered inside a police station. What makes my heart stay restless is seeing those who we suspect were behind the murder of my son walking scot-free and chest-thumping that they will not be taken anywhere because they have godfathers in the government,” said a distraught father.
Mr Onyango described his son as a gentle, humble young man who was sensitive, quiet, and jovial.
“He dropped out of university due to lack of fees but as a family, we were looking for funds to enable him to complete his studies,” added his father.
“He loved farming green pepper and poultry. He had a motorbike, and shied away from criminal activities.”
Ooko's mother Benta Adhiambo, who has been sickly, said the family still had hope of finding those responsible for his murder.
“Since my son was murdered, I have never known any peace in my heart. It pains me to see killers of my son still enjoying government salaries while, as a family, we are denied justice,” said a tearful mother.
"We would like to see Geoffrey given the justice he deserves and that would be to find whoever murdered him,” she added.
The woman suffered a heart attack due to high blood pressure, a condition that left one side of her body paralysed.
“I miss his smile. His murder has seen me develop high blood pressure because I keep thinking about how he was brutally murdered by police officers who are known yet no action has been taken against them,” said Ms Adhiambo.
Like her husband, she believes police beat her son to death.
“It further pains my heart because the police officers implicated in the murder of my son are well known to my family and knew Geoffrey. If they suspected my son of any criminal activities, they knew me and his father and they should have reported the matter to the police for action instead of killing him inside the police cells. It is as if they had other bad motives or were on a revenge mission, which we don’t know about,” said Ms Adhiambo.
The mother recalls that a week before her son “was killed”, he had revealed to her that he had a girlfriend who was pregnant whom he was planning to marry.
“Geoffrey was planning to introduce his girlfriend to the family. The girl has since given birth to a baby boy who will be celebrating his first birthday on February 18. I‘m now helping with upkeep.”
Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and Human Rights defender David Kuria called on the IPOA to speed up investigations so that perpetrators can be prosecuted.
“Geoffrey met his death as a result of police brutality in police cells and since the officers implicated are well known, IPOA should not dilly-dally with these investigations. The officers should face the full force of the law and let justice prevail,” said Mr Kuria.
Geoffrey’s father says since his son died at the hands of police, there was a sinister motive to conceal critical evidence.
"I may not be a detective but the evidence gathered from eyewitnesses and those who were in police cell, including a police officer on duty at Rumuruti Police Station, is overwhelming. There is a ploy to cover the prime suspects of this murder," he said.
“This case is among 2,472 cases that are still under investigation before they are referred to ODPP,” said a senior IPOA official.
