UASIN GISHU, Kenya – A ruling in a high-profile case involving two police officers accused of torturing Dennis Lusava to death at Mbururu Police Post and then disposing of his body in the River Nzoia is anticipated today from the High Court in Eldoret.
The International Justice Mission is representing the relatives of the deceased whose body was recovered in the river located in Likuyani Sub-County within Kakamega County.
Lusava met policemen PC Reuben Yator and Godwine Wekesa Sirengo in Mbururu town on October 4, 2022. Following an altercation, bystanders stepped in to stop the officers from harassing or arresting him.
The officers allegedly plotted to get revenge on Lusava for the previous public humiliation three days later, on October 7. He was allegedly lured to the police station by a close friend, where he was taken into custody and placed in handcuffs against a window.
Lusava allegedly suffered beatings, kicks, and electric cords while in detention. When his mother, Agnes Ambale, came to the station, she discovered him seriously injured.
Despite her pleas, she was asked to bring Sh2,000 to secure his release. Lusava later tried to get medical attention but was escorted back to the station. Before he lost consciousness, a doctor claimed to have heard him scream in agony.
How the accused dumped the deceased’s body
According to reports, the officers took his body to Webuye and disposed of it in the Nzoia River. The police Occurrence Book was reportedly tampered with to make it appear as though Lusava had been freed.
His family identified his body after it was found on October 11. Numerous injuries that resulted in circulatory failure were discovered at a post-mortem.
Following an inquiry by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the two police officers were taken into custody and charged with murder.
Mugun and Kirenge headed the prosecution in the case, which was heard by Justice Nyakundi. 27 exhibits were presented and 21 witnesses testified in the case.
The court ruling in Eldoret comes when the National Police Service (NPS) has interdicted two police officers in connection with the shooting of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, an unarmed street vendor who was gunned down during Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NPS confirmed that Police Constables Klinzy Barasa Masinde (Service No. 119413) and Duncan Kiprono (Service No. 117193) have been arrested and are currently under investigation by the Homicide Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters.
Why two Nairobi police officers are in trouble
The shooting, which was captured on video and widely circulated online, sparked public outrage after it showed one of the officers shooting Kariuki at close range near Imenti House.
Kariuki was not part of the protests and was reportedly selling face masks when the incident occurred.
The police described the act as “unjustified” and extended its regret to Kariuki’s family, pledging full cooperation in the pursuit of justice.
“The National Police Service deeply regrets this unjustified act and commiserates with the victim and his family, while reaffirming its full commitment to ensuring justice is served,” said Muchiri Nyaga, NPS Director of Corporate Communication.
Kariuki, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head, underwent emergency neurosurgery at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
According to the latest update from KNH officials, he is in stable condition and remains under close medical observation in the Intensive Care Unit.
