24-Year-Old Student Dies At Kiambu Police Station, Prompts Rights Groups’ Investigation
Vocal Africa has urged the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the unexplained death of a 24-year-old Kiambu Polytechnic student at Kiambu Police Station.
According to the human rights group, Brian Njung’e, 24, was detained on May 21 in Kiambu town’s Kirigiti neighborhood.
Hussein Khalid, CEO of Vocal Africa, said it is unknown why Njung’e was taken by authorities.
According to Khalid, Brian called his mother from the police cell about 9 a.m. after being arrested.
Concerned, the family raced to visit him just before noon. When they arrived at the station, the family, including the mother, followed up and asked to see Brian, but were told to wait.
Another Death Inside A Police Station!
24 years old Brian Njung’e, a student at Kiambu National Polytechnic, was arrested yesterday Thursday 21st May morning in Kirigiti area of Kiambu town and booked at Kiambu Police Station.
Brian called his mother from the police station… pic.twitter.com/iy8CGgbRNe— husseinkhalid (@husskhalid) May 22, 2026
It was not until around 2pm that the family received devastating news from the police officer that their son had succumbed to death by suicide in the cells.
According to the police, Brian was alone in the cell as other cellmates had been taken to court. It is unclear how Brian allegedly took his life, something the family disputes.
The family has disputed the account of the police officers and is now seeking justice for their son.
Brian’s death adds to a grim and growing tally of cases of Kenyans who have entered police custody alive, only to leave it in a body bag.
According to a report from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), 17 deaths have been reported in police custody between 2024 and 2025.
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With the likes of Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in May 2025 in custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi while detained on claims of publishing false information.
And Jack Leon Matoke, a 23-year-old, just to mention a few of the many who died in December 2025, hours after being booked into Kawangware Police Station.
Police claimed he hanged himself with his t-shirt, even though it was noted that his body was still in full motorcycle gear.
According to IMLU reports for last year, some of the fatalities were linked to cardiorespiratory failure or cardiogenic shock caused by multiple injuries.
This suggests possible physical assault, torture or suffocation, and that some of the deaths were concealed, with many families still waiting for justice.
24-Year-Old Student Dies At Kiambu Police Station, Prompts Rights Groups’ Investigation
