KISUMU, Kenya — Police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have launched investigations into the death of a 21-year-old suspect who allegedly died by suicide inside the Kisumu Central Police Station cells on Friday.
The deceased, identified as Kelvin Oduor, had been arrested earlier in the week for allegedly being in possession of an AK-47 rifle linked to several robbery incidents in Kisumu.
According to a police report seen by K24 Digital, Oduor was found hanging in a bathroom within the station shortly after 6 a.m. as officers on duty prepared to hand over to the incoming shift.
Police Constable (W) Annaline Chepkemoi and Constable Ismael Baraka, who were in charge of the report office and cell sentry at the time, noticed that Oduor was missing from the group of inmates. Upon checking, they found his body in the bathroom.
Oduor had been arrested on October 27 after a shootout along St. Otieno Oyoo Street near Patel Sarmaj Temple.
During the operation, officers recovered an AK-47 rifle with serial number 94883, loaded with five rounds of 7.2 mm ammunition and one spent cartridge. Police suspect the weapon had been used in several robbery cases in the city.
According to Kisumu Central Deputy Sub-County Police Commander Bakari Juma, Oduor was facing robbery with violence charges and had been placed in custody for 14 days under a miscellaneous file to allow ongoing investigations.
“Efforts are underway to trace Oduor’s relatives as investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death continue,” said Juma.
IPOA has since launched an independent inquiry into the incident. Paul Murkomen, the authority’s Nyanza Regional Coordinator, confirmed that his team received an early morning notification from police and immediately dispatched investigators to the scene.
“Our preliminary findings indicate that the deceased, who had been arrested for a robbery with violence case, was remanded pending further court proceedings,” Murkomen said. “We have taken several statements, documented the scene, and commenced a full investigation to establish the exact circumstances of his death.”
Murkomen also noted that Oduor had no identification documents at the time of arrest, and police are working to locate his relatives.
The incident has renewed scrutiny over detainee safety and accountability within police custody, an issue IPOA has repeatedly raised in its annual reports.
The authority’s mandate under the Independent Policing Oversight Authority Act, 2011, includes investigating all deaths and serious injuries occurring in police custody or as a result of police action.
As investigations continue, both the National Police Service and IPOA have pledged transparency, assuring the public that any findings of negligence or misconduct will be addressed in accordance with the law.
