Authorities in Homa Bay County have launched investigations into the death of a 36-year-old fisherman who died while in police custody at Kipasi Police Post in Mbita. The man, identified as Calvins Omondi Onditi, reportedly died on the morning of Sunday, June 15, 2025, hours after he had been arrested at midnight.
According to a police report, Calvins hanged himself using his trouser inside the holding room. He had been arrested after being found inside a goat pen in a village near Ndhuru beach, where he worked as a fisherman. Locals who discovered him allegedly alerted the village chief, who then contacted the police to detain him. The circumstances leading to his arrest and the exact reasons for his presence in the goat pen remain unclear.
The family of the deceased, however, disputes the police version of events. They acknowledged that Calvins had trespassed onto private property but strongly denied claims that he had taken his own life. They described him as a man of good character who had never shown any signs of suicidal tendencies.
A cousin of the deceased, Evance Osano, questioned the police narrative and expressed concern about the increasing number of unexplained deaths involving young people in police custody. He said it was alarming that such cases continue to occur, especially at a time when the country is still grappling with the recent high-profile death of another young man under controversial circumstances.
Further questions were raised by the deceased’s uncle, Owino Achieng, who accused the police of providing misleading information. He found it suspicious that the body had been removed from the police post before the arrival of close family members. According to him, such actions undermine public confidence in law enforcement and obscure the truth behind such incidents.
The family has demanded transparency in the ongoing investigations and urged the government to take swift action to address what they see as a growing pattern of custodial deaths. They emphasized that proper investigations must be carried out to ensure justice is served and those responsible held accountable.
The body of Calvins was taken to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, where a postmortem examination is expected to determine the cause of death. Hospital officials confirmed that the deceased was brought in with the trouser still tied around his neck, as claimed in the police report.
As the probe continues, the family remains adamant that their loved one did not commit suicide and are calling for an independent inquiry to uncover the truth. The incident has reignited public concern over the safety and treatment of suspects in police custody.
