Family Seeks Justice After Losing Son in Police Custody

A family in Bondo, Siaya County is pursuing justice after Vitalis Okinda, 29 years old died in Police custody

The deceased was detained at Bondo Police Station where he is alleged to have died.

His motorbike had been confiscated by the police at Bondo Sub-County Hospital compound where he had reportedly parked it to receive the Covid-19 jab and he went to the Police station to follow up on the issue.

The police were demanding 40,000 shillings to release the motorbike but the family wanted their son charged in Bondo Court instead.

Speaking to a local TV station, Mrs. Okinda, Vitalis mother said that when the postmortem was done in the presence of officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), results showed that he had internal bleeding in the head which was caused by blunt force.

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She went ahead to explain that the deceased body had injuries all over and they are not in terms with what the police said about her son being sick.

“They are not very clear about what happened. Officers from IPOA came and we recorded a statement and they witnessed the postmortem. He had injuries all over his body and he had internal bleeding in the head which led to his death,” the mother explained.

The family was informed by doctors at Bondo Sub-County Hospital that Vitalis was brought to the hospital past midnight and he was already dead and was taken directly to the morgue.

“When he was taken to the hospital, he was already dead and they refused to admit him hence was taken to the morgue. The mortuary attendant told us that he was brought past midnight,” she concluded.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Article by Doreen.