The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is calling for immediate answers regarding the mysterious death of 39-year-old Simon Warui, who died in police custody at Mombasa’s Central Police Station.
Warui, who was last seen by his family members on Sunday morning at 10 a.m., was reported missing shortly afterward.
The family reported a case of a missing person at Embakasi Police Station in Nairobi. Their worst fears were confirmed hours later: the body of Warui was discovered in a cell in Mombasa, more than 480 kilometers away, under circumstances that are still shockingly unclear.
In a statement issued Monday, LSK President Faith Odhiambo confirmed that the society had appointed an advocate to represent Warui’s family, ensuring a transparent investigation is conducted and justice is pursued.
“We have appointed an advocate to monitor the investigation and ensure that the full truth about the circumstances leading to Mr. Warui’s death is uncovered,” Odhiambo said. “Those responsible must be held to account.”
Odhiambo praised the Mombasa branch of the LSK for coming out in support of the grieving family and added that the society would not allow the matter to be brushed under the carpet.
LSK is now working in partnership with civil society groups and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to push for an independent and speedy investigation into Warui’s death.
Their call joins a growing chorus demanding answers and reform within Kenya’s police service, particularly when it comes to deaths occurring behind station walls.
In recent months, several other individuals have died in police custody under similarly circumstances, pointing to a troubling trend.
In August, 33-year-old Raymond Nachibati passed away in police custody at Budonga Police Post in Kakamega County just hours after his arrest. He was arrested alongside two other people following an alleged brawl. His lifeless body was later discovered in a cell how he died is still under probe.
Weeks before that, the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger and teacher. Ojwang was held in Homa Bay for allegedly insulting Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat online.
Police claimed he died after hitting his head on a cell wall, but an independent autopsy gave a different account: severe head injuries that forensic pathologists said could not have been inflicted by himself.
Ojwang died in a Nairobi police cell his death prompted public outrage and protests.
And in June, 36-year-old Calvince Omondi Onditi was found dead in a cell at Kipasi Police Post in Mbita, Homa Bay County. Arrested at midnight, Omondi is reported to have committed suicide a few hours later. His family and human rights activists have refused to believe that account.
Human rights organizations have long warned that custodial deaths are on the rise in Kenya. Despite constant promises by the government to guarantee police accountability and human rights, it appears little has improved on the ground.
“These cases are more than simply tragic losses they’re a clear signal that the system is failing,” a human rights activist who preferred not to be named said. “People are dying behind closed doors, and families are not receiving any answers.”
For the family of Simon Warui, the battle is just starting. And for the Law Society of Kenya, his death has become a rallying point a call to arms to fight a system in which justice, all too frequently, appears to stop at the police station gate.
