The discovery of Silvester Peter Mwenda’s body at Nyambene Level 4 Hospital has sent shockwaves through Meru County, sparking outrage and suspicion over his sudden death. Family members claim Mwenda was abducted by men identifying themselves as DCI officers, beaten, and later killed while in police custody.
Meanwhile, authorities insist he died from injuries sustained during a mob justice incident. This growing controversy raises questions about accountability, transparency, and the blurred lines between law enforcement and vigilante justice in Kenya.
Death of Meru Man Linked to DCI Arrest Raises Serious Questions
The tragic death of Mwenda has brought intense scrutiny to police procedures and the treatment of suspects in Meru County. According to his wife, Gloria Gatwiri, Mwenda was forcibly taken from his home on Friday night by men claiming to be detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stationed at Maua Police Station. Gatwiri alleges that the officers not only took Mwenda but also his vehicle, three goats, and an acquaintance who serves as a National Police Reserve (NPR) officer.
“The officers identified themselves as DCI from Maua when they left with him,” Gatwiri said. She further alleged that her husband was beaten during the abduction. Despite searching for him the following day, the family only encountered the NPR officer, with Mwenda’s whereabouts remaining unknown.
The search intensified on Monday when family members attempted to follow up on court proceedings. Their efforts were futile until they discovered Mwenda’s body at Nyambene Level 4 Hospital morgue. “When we went searching in the mortuary, that is where we found him dead,” Gatwiri revealed, highlighting a troubling gap between police custody and accountability.
Police claim mob justice led to the death
In stark contrast, the National Police Service maintains that Mwenda’s death was not the result of police brutality. Meru County Criminal Investigating Officer Abednego Kavoo stated that Mwenda was a robbery suspect who had assisted police in arresting another suspect armed with G3 and AK-47 rifles. Kavoo said Mwenda sustained injuries during a chaotic encounter with an angry mob.
“In that operation, there was a lot of mix-up between members of the public and the police. The angry mob had raised some issues, and so they started attacking the suspect, and unfortunately, they somehow injured the deceased,” Kavoo explained. He further noted that police efforts to intervene were hampered because they arrived too late to prevent the assault.
Family disputes police account
The conflicting narratives have left Mwenda’s family and local residents in disbelief. Gatwiri and relatives firmly reject the claim of mob justice, insisting Mwenda was in the custody of men presenting themselves as DCI officers. Their accounts suggest a potential abuse of authority and highlight the dangers faced by individuals allegedly involved with law enforcement operations.
The family also questions why it took several days to locate Mwenda, with searches spanning multiple police stations and court offices before his body was finally found. “The only person we found was the NPR officer. We were forced to look in the mortuary to discover what really happened,” Gatwiri said.
Calls for transparency and investigation
The incident has sparked calls from human rights groups and civil society organizations for an independent investigation into Mwenda’s death. Critics argue that discrepancies between police statements and family accounts underscore systemic issues in Kenya’s criminal justice system, including lack of oversight and vulnerability of suspects in custody.
Lawyers and community leaders have urged authorities to release detailed records of Mwenda’s arrest, custody, and the circumstances surrounding his injuries. Transparency is seen as crucial to restoring public trust and preventing future incidents of alleged abuse.
The death of Meru man linked to DCI arrest continues to dominate local headlines, raising pressing questions about police accountability and the role of vigilante actions in law enforcement operations. As investigations unfold, the public awaits answers that could clarify the truth behind Mwenda’s tragic demise and ensure justice for his family.
