Authorities in Gatundu South have defended local police officers following the death of a 30-year-old man who passed away while in custody, saying he choked after swallowing bhang. The explanation comes a day after angry residents staged protests demanding justice and accusing police of brutality.
According to Gatundu South Deputy County Commissioner Florence Chege, preliminary postmortem results revealed that the deceased, identified as Paul Njuguna, choked after swallowing a nylon paper containing bhang. The substance was reportedly retrieved during the autopsy and preserved as an exhibit to aid ongoing investigations.
Chege dismissed claims circulating among residents that Njuguna was strangled or beaten by police officers. She stated that the results confirmed the cause of death as choking, not physical assault. The DCC urged the public to remain calm and allow the investigation to take its course, emphasizing that the recovered bhang would serve as critical evidence in determining what happened.
She further encouraged residents to report any cases of police misconduct through official channels rather than resorting to violent demonstrations. Chege also warned law enforcement officers against using excessive force during arrests, noting that such actions damage public trust and fuel unnecessary tension between the police and the community.
Her account, however, sharply contrasts with what residents of Gatundu South claim transpired. Locals insist that Njuguna was assaulted by police officers after being arrested for allegedly possessing bhang. They accused the officers of using unnecessary force and claimed he was beaten to death while in custody.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of brutality, with one resident recounting that the police frequently mistreat suspects during arrests. Another resident, James Karanja, said the officers did not give Njuguna a chance to defend himself, alleging that they “beat him mercilessly” instead of taking him to court.
The incident has heightened tension in the area, with some residents threatening to torch the police station in protest. Community leaders have since appealed for calm, urging both the public and security agencies to let the investigations unfold transparently.
By the time of this report, the National Police Service had not yet issued an official statement regarding the case, even as questions continue to mount over the circumstances surrounding Njuguna’s death.
