Kenyan President William Ruto has strongly condemned the death of a 31-year-old man in police custody, an incident that has sparked widespread anger across the nation as it approaches the one-year anniversary of massive anti-government protests.
The deceased, who was arrested in western Kenya over social media posts that accused police deputy inspector-general Eliud Kipkoech Lagat of corruption, died over the weekend after being transferred to the central police station in Nairobi.
Initially, police claimed the man had inflicted injuries on himself by hitting his head against his cell wall. However, this account was contradicted by a government pathologist who stated that the injuries were "unlikely to be self-inflicted."
President's Response to the Incident
"This tragic occurrence, at the hands of police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable," President Ruto said in his statement. He further called on law enforcement officers to cooperate fully to ensure a "swift, transparent and credible investigation" into the matter.
Interior Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also weighed in, expressing the government's commitment to bringing all individuals involved in the crime to justice.
Timing Heightens Tensions
The incident comes at a particularly sensitive time for Kenya, which is marking one year since widespread protests against tax increases and corruption. Those protests resulted in a police response that left at least 60 people dead.
The death in custody has reignited public anger, triggering protests and intense online discussions about police conduct and accountability in the East African nation.
This case adds to ongoing concerns about police brutality in Kenya, with human rights organizations repeatedly calling for reforms within the country's law enforcement agencies.
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