Family Demands Answers After 24-Year-Old Student Dies at Kiambu Police Station

A family in Kiambu County is calling for an independent investigation into the death of their 24-year-old son, who died in police custody hours after being arrested.

Brian Njung’e, a student at Kiambu National Polytechnic, was detained on Thursday morning in the Kirigiti area of Kiambu town and taken to Kiambu Police Station.

According to human rights activist and lawyer Hussein Khalid, Brian managed to call his mother from the station around 9am to inform her of his arrest.

The family rushed to the station but was allegedly told to wait upon arrival shortly before noon.

Hours later, at around 2pm, police informed the family that Brian had died by suicide inside his cell. Officers claimed he was alone at the time, as other detainees had already been taken to court.

The family has strongly disputed the police account, insisting that the explanation does not add up and that critical questions remain unanswered.

Hussein Khalid, CEO of VOCAL Africa, described the incident as “another death inside a police station” and said the family believes there is more to the story than authorities have disclosed.

The case has reignited concerns over deaths in police custody in Kenya, where allegations of police brutality, mistreatment of suspects, and lack of accountability have long been documented by local and international rights organisations.

Rights groups have repeatedly called for transparent investigations into such incidents, arguing that families deserve clear answers rather than official narratives that often appear inconsistent or incomplete.