Man Dies in Police Custody at Mombasa’s Central Station

A 26-year-old man from Umoja, identified as Simon Warui, has died while in police custody at Central Police Station, Mombasa, under circumstances that have sparked questions about the conduct of law enforcement.

Warui, who was reported missing on Sunday, September 21, was confirmed dead by Thursday, September 25. Police stated that he had “fallen from a wall in the cells,” a claim that has drawn skepticism from family members and rights activists.

He is survived by his wife and a three-year-old child. Relatives described him as the family’s main provider and have demanded an independent investigation into the cause of death.

Human rights organizations condemned the incident, terming it part of a pattern of custodial deaths in Kenya. They cited past cases, including that of Baby Pendo and Albert Ojwang, urging the government to address what they called “systemic abuse in police custody.”

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has yet to issue a statement on the matter. Calls for accountability continue as pressure mounts on authorities to explain how Warui died while under police supervision.