A family in Bondo, Siaya County is yet to come to terms with the death of their 25-year–old kin who mysteriously died while being held at Bondo Police Station.
The deceased, Vitalis Okinda, had reportedly been in police custody since January 8, 2022, when he was arrested for a minor traffic offence. One of his kin, Dominic Misolo, claims that they were only informed of Okinda’s death, via a phone call from police on Tuesday morning.
Okinda’s family has since demanded an explanation from authorities over what could have caused the death of the deceased, whom they suspect to have died inside the Bondo police cells.
Confirming the incident, Bondo Sub-County Police Commander Roseline Chebosho said the deceased passed on at Bondo Sub-County Hospital at around 11:29 pm after falling ill. The police boss claimed the deceased was rushed to the medical facility but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“I think at the station he was removed from the cell when he complained that he was sick. On arrival at the hospital, the doctor when checking him, declared him dead,” Chebosho said.
She similarly dismissed claims that Okinda was assaulted while in police custody citing that investigations were underway to determine the cause of death. Okinda’s body is currently at Bondo-Sub-County Hospital Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
