Two Police Officers Sentenced to 40 Years Over Death of Suspect in Nyamira Cell Case
Two police officers have been handed lengthy prison sentences after a court found them guilty in connection with the death of a suspect who died while in police custody in Nyamatoki, Nyamira County, in August 2019.
The case, which has been closely followed due to concerns about police conduct and deaths in custody, ended with a combined jail term of 40 years.
According to information presented by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the two officers were convicted over the killing of Amos Kemosi Kereri, who died on 19 August 2019 shortly after being arrested and detained at a local police post.
Police Corporal James Ogwagwa Nyakina was sentenced to 30 years in prison, while Police Constable Jackson Kirui Kipngeno received a 10-year sentence.
The court treated the matter as a serious violation of duty by law enforcement officers, especially given that the victim was already in custody and under their protection.
During the trial, prosecutors told the court that the officers had taken part in a night patrol operation where the deceased was arrested together with other officers.
After the arrest, Kereri was taken to the Nyamatoki Police Post. It was at this point, according to the prosecution, that the two officers assaulted him while he was inside the cell.
The court heard that the injuries inflicted during this assault were severe and ultimately led to his death. Although he was later rushed to hospital the following morning, he was pronounced dead, confirming that the injuries sustained while in custody were fatal.
To support its case, the prosecution called 14 witnesses. Their testimonies helped the court piece together the sequence of events, from the arrest during patrol to what happened inside the police cell. Witness accounts were key in showing how the officers allegedly handled the suspect while he was detained and under their care.
The judge concluded that both officers were directly involved in the unlawful killing of the suspect while he was in their custody.
The ruling emphasized that police officers have a legal and professional responsibility to protect individuals in detention, not harm them, and that any abuse of that responsibility amounts to a serious criminal offence.
In a related development highlighting similar concerns about police brutality, another court earlier in the year issued a life sentence in a separate but high-profile case.
In that matter, the Mombasa High Court found former Likoni Officer Commanding Station Yunus Athman guilty of killing 20-year-old Mbaraka Maitha Omar in 2018.
That case also attracted public attention and outrage, as it involved allegations of excessive force against a civilian. The court, presided over by Lady Justice Wendy Kagendo Micheni, noted that the officer had a clear duty to protect life but instead used unlawful force against an unarmed young man.
The court relied on evidence from more than 20 witnesses in that case, many of whom placed the officer at the scene and rejected claims that the victim posed any threat.
The judgment reinforced concerns about accountability within the police service and the importance of protecting civilians from abuse of power.
Both rulings highlight ongoing judicial efforts in Kenya to address cases involving alleged police misconduct and to reinforce the principle that officers are not above the law when it comes to the protection of human life.
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