Trial of OCS 'who tortured suspect to death' resumes

Former Ruaraka Police Station OCS Nahashon Mutua in a Nairobi court where he denied killing a man in a cell. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • OCS ordered the release of suspects when they agreed to record statements implicating a cellmate in a death.
  • Ipoa took up the case, leading to the acquittal of Odhiambo.

The trial of a former officer commanding station accused of torturing a man in police cell leading to his death four years ago resumes this week.

Mr Nahashon Mutua is expected to call witnesses on Monday.

During the last hearing, Mr Mutua called three people as witnesses.

They were Mr Gilbert Kapule, Ms Doreen Karuthi Kagiri, a bar maid, and Mr Emmanuel Shikuku Sumba, a bouncer.

DRUNK

During the cross-examination, it emerged that the former Ruaraka OCS ordered the release of some suspects from custody when they agreed to record statements implicating a cellmate in the death of Martin Koome.

The witnesses said they recorded statements implicating Kelvin Odhiambo for the death of Koome.

The cellmates said Koome was drunk and fought with Mr Odhiambo in the cells.

The former police officer is accused of torturing to death Koome in the cells on the night of December 19, 2013.

DEEP CUTS

Koome had been arrested in Baba Dogo over a domestic brawl.

He was assaulted with a metal pipe and his head immersed in a drum of water.

When police officers took him to Kenyatta National Hospital 20 hours later, he had a swollen face, deep cuts and his wife could barely recognise him, the court was told.

When Koome was being booked at the hospital, police officers said he had been beaten by a mob.

TRANSFERRED

Soon after the incident, Mr Mutua was transferred to Machakos County as the staffing officer.

The court also heard that a plan was hatched to incriminate Mr Odhiambo in the death.

He was later arrested and charged with murder but the case was terminated after the intervention of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

In his testimony, Mr Mutua admitted ordering Koome to be placed in the cells though he was drunk.

STATEMENTS

Asked why he sent a drunk person in a cell, Mr Mutua said the station had one holding room only.

Mr Mutua denied violating the Police Service standing orders.

He also admitted that he directed an inspector identified as Chea to record statements from persons who had been locked up with Koome.

In the statements, the suspects say Mr Odhiambo killed Koome.