21-Year-Old Kenyan Man Commits Suicide In Police Cell

21-Year-Old Kenyan Man Commits Suicide In Police Cell

A family in Nkoben, Narok County, Kenya is mourning their kin who allegedly committed suicide in a police cell.

Vincent Kiplang’at, 21, had been arrested on Thursday last week and put in Lolung’a police station after he allegedly assaulted his wife.

According to his father, David Mutai, the deceased was to be arraigned in a Narok Court on Monday, January 27, but instead he was informed of his death on Sunday.

Mutai said he was called by police officers who informed him that his son had committed suicide by hanging himself using a blanket at the wee hours of the night.

“The deceased had been arrested at Longisa trading center after he was involved in domestic violence with his wife who was demanding separation and division of property,” said Mr Mutai.

Now the family wants the police to carry out investigations on the matter saying the nature of death of their son is questionable.

“What is more worrying is why the police officers on duty did not notice such an attempt of suicide. This is very disturbing and we want a proper probe on the matter,” said Mutai.

He said that the family could not afford Sh30,000 needed for a post-mortem to be carried out on Kiplang’at’s body.

“We are calling on experts to help us get to the root cause of the death. We are still in shock and do not understand the sudden turn of events.

Confirming the incident, Narok South Sub County Police Commander Ezekiel Kiiche said the deceased had a history of violence and mental sickness which could have led to his death.

“We have realized that the young man had a history of violence and mental illness. During the day of arrest, he was very violent and spoke as if he suffered a mental illness,” Kiiche explained.