What Happened to Julia Njoki After Her Arrest?
The family of 24-year-old Julia Njoki is seeking answers and justice after her sudden death in police custody following the Saba Saba protests in Nanyuki. According to relatives, Njoki was on her way home when she was caught up in a police roundup and detained at Nanyuki Police Station alongside other protesters.
She appeared at the Nanyuki Law Courts the next day and was released on a Ksh.50,000 bond, which the family could not raise immediately. As a result, Njoki remained in custody at the Nanyuki GK Prison remand. Her grandmother, Susan Rienye, claims Njoki was assaulted while in custody.
By Wednesday, Njoki developed serious health complications and was rushed to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, where she later died during treatment. A preliminary medical report revealed blunt force trauma to the head, pointing to a violent assault. A full postmortem is scheduled for Tuesday.
Are Police Responsible for Her Death and Others in Nanyuki?
Njoki’s case is not isolated. Just days apart, 17-year-old Thomas Gachara, a Form Three student at Bingwa Secondary School, was shot and killed while leaving school. Two other young men, Felix Karani and Felix Thuranira, are currently hospitalized with gunshot wounds to their legs.
These incidents, which occurred separately, have triggered public outrage and accusations of excessive force by police officers during and after the Saba Saba demonstrations. Human rights groups and concerned citizens have called for an independent investigation into the deaths and injuries, citing systemic abuse within the police force.
What Is the Public’s Response to the Deaths in Nanyuki?
The community in Nanyuki has taken to the streets in protest, expressing anger and frustration over what many believe is a pattern of police brutality. Demonstrators are demanding accountability and immediate action against officers involved in the reported assaults and shootings.
“There must be justice for Julia and Thomas. These lives matter,” one protester was heard shouting during a vigil held outside the hospital.
Human rights defenders have joined the call for thorough, impartial investigations and sweeping reforms within the National Police Service to prevent future tragedies.
By Lucky Anyanje