IPOA Investigates Death of Assault Suspect in Nyeri Police Custody

The death of Dennis Aremo Osiemo in a police cell in Nyeri has triggered an independent investigation, with the policing watchdog seeking to establish what happened between his arrest and his death.

Osiemo was found dead at Narumoru Police Station on Sunday, September 20, just a day after he was transferred there following his arrest in Kisii County.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has now taken over the investigation into the circumstances of his death.

The development comes after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) gave an account of Osiemo’s arrest and detention, saying he was found hanging from the ventilation grills of the cell.

IPOA said its investigators had visited the station and were following up on the circumstances surrounding the death.

The authority said Osiemo’s body was taken to Narumoru Level 4 Hospital Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted in the presence of IPOA investigators and members of his family.

The autopsy is expected to provide important evidence as investigators reconstruct his final hours in custody.

Arrest followed assault investigation

Osiemo had been arrested over an assault case dating back to July 2, 2026.

According to the DCI, he was suspected of attacking a woman for whom he had previously worked as a farmhand.

The agency said the woman reported that Osiemo had assaulted and stabbed her several times before fleeing.

She was later admitted to Tumutumu Hospital for nine days.

The DCI said the woman subsequently raised concerns with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Nanyuki over the handling of the case.

The ODPP then directed the DCI to take over the investigation. The case file was forwarded to the Kieni East Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer on September 3.

Detectives later traced Osiemo to Kisii County.

He was arrested on September 18 with assistance from officers in the area and was initially booked at Keroka Police Station.

He was subsequently transferred to Narumoru Police Station on September 19.

Found dead before court appearance

The DCI said Osiemo was processed at Narumoru and recorded a statement before being returned to the cells.

According to the agency, officers observed him to be in normal condition at the time.

He was expected to appear in court on Monday, September 21, in connection with the assault case.

But he died a day earlier.

The DCI said officers found him hanging from the ventilation grills inside the cell.

The scene was processed in the presence of IPOA officers, senior police officers and a relative before the body was taken to the mortuary.

The DCI has since said it will cooperate fully with IPOA as the independent investigation proceeds.

It has also urged the public to wait for verified findings rather than draw conclusions from claims circulating online.

IPOA to establish what happened

IPOA’s involvement is significant because the death occurred while Osiemo was in police custody.

The authority has not attributed blame to any individual or given a final explanation for the death.

Instead, investigators will have to establish the sequence of events inside the station, examine the scene and medical evidence, and determine whether the available evidence is consistent with the account provided by police.

The post-mortem will form part of that process.

The DCI’s account of Osiemo’s arrest and death is therefore not the final finding on the circumstances surrounding his death.

For now, the assault allegations that led to his arrest also remain allegations. Osiemo died before he could appear in court and answer to the case.

IPOA said it would continue with the necessary investigative processes before reaching conclusions on what happened.

The focus has now shifted from the case that brought Osiemo into custody to the unanswered question of how he died while there.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.