Protests have rocked Likii slum in Nanyuki following the death of 24-year-old Julia Njoki, who allegedly suffered fatal injuries while in police custody. Tensions escalated after officers blocked demonstrators from accessing Nanyuki town. Protesters lit fires and erected barricades along the main road, demanding the immediate arrest of the officer believed to have assaulted her.
What happened to Julia Njoki in police custody?
Njoki was arrested during the Sabasaba protests on July 7 while heading home. According to her family, she was rounded up with other protestors and taken to Nanyuki Police Station. After failing to raise a Ksh.50,000 bond, she was arraigned at Nanyuki Law Courts on charges of malicious damage and later remanded at Nanyuki Women’s Prison.
The Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) stated that Njoki was admitted to the prison on July 8, around 5:20 pm with four others. By 7:00 pm, she reportedly complained of dizziness, headache, and stomach pain. She was rushed to the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, but her condition worsened. The next morning, she was referred for a CT scan at Cottage Hospital and was later admitted to the ICU.
What do the medical reports reveal?
Njoki underwent surgery but died on July 12. A preliminary medical report obtained by her family revealed blunt force trauma to the head, consistent with a severe beating. Her father told The Standard that she was already in critical condition when admitted and had to undergo emergency surgery the following day.
The public outcry has intensified, especially because Njoki’s case follows closely after the death of teacher Albert Ojwang’, who also died under similar circumstances in police custody. The parallels between the two deaths have fueled growing concern over police brutality. A postmortem examination on Njoki’s body is scheduled for Tuesday next week, as her family continues to seek answers and justice.
By Lucky Anyanje
