An eyewitness has testified before Justice Margaret Muigai regarding the violent death of the Kianjakoma brothers, Benson Njiru Ndwiga and Emmanuel Mutura Ndwiga. The brothers were allegedly arrested for violating COVID-19 curfew rules on August 1, 2025, and were later found dead at the Embu Level 5 Hospital Mortuary on August 3, 2025.
During the hearing, the eyewitness recounted seeing one brother being struck five times with a mattock by a police officer. As the second brother approached, another officer reportedly assaulted him with punches and kicks. The eyewitness could not recall the exact license plate number of the police vehicle involved.
This testimony directly contradicts the original police claim that the brothers died after voluntarily jumping from a moving vehicle while attempting to escape custody. Forensic pathologists confirmed that both brothers suffered severe head and rib injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma, effectively discrediting the police narrative of an accidental fall.
Following these revelations, the Director of Public Prosecutions ordered the arrest and charging of six police officers involved in the incident, marking a significant step towards accountability.
The court also touched upon the longstanding case of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru, who was last seen with British soldiers near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) base in Nanyuki in 2012. Her body was discovered two months later in a septic tank. A 2018 inquest concluded she was unlawfully killed by one or more UK soldiers. The case has faced years of legal delays due to diplomatic complications, highlighting the challenges victims face when pursuing justice against powerful foreign entities in Kenya.
Justice Muigai adjourned the Kianjakoma case, scheduling the next sessions for February 5 and February 19, 2026. These hearings are expected to provide further clarity and accountability for the tragic deaths of the brothers.
