The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has taken over the investigations nto the controversial death of 19-year-old Erick Otieno after his detention at Muthaiga Police Station on Sunday, August 2.
This was confirmed by the National Police Service (NPS) in a statement, who also confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had begun inquiries after receiving a report on Otieno’s death.
“Upon receiving the report of his passing, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations promptly initiated inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. The investigations have now been taken over by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority,” the service stated.
The deceased, a boda boda rider from Mathare, Nairobi, was taken to Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital in Nairobi after his release from police custody.
It was then he was pronounced dead, according to claims made by his family.
The family accused police officers of assaulting the teen, further alleging that they refused to release the boda boda rider to seek treatment despite complaints of injuries.
Despite that, police are yet to respond to these claims.
According to reports, a post-mortem conducted on Tuesday, August 4, found that Otieno died of internal bleeding and a ruptured spleen caused by blunt force trauma.
