Brian, a student at Kiambu National Polytechnic, had been arrested over allegations of stealing household items from a neighbour, including two umbrellas, a gas cooker, a MacBook laptop, and a computer mouse.
The young man had reportedly moved into the area barely three months before the incident that has now sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny over deaths occurring in police custody across the country.
According to family members, Brian was arrested following an altercation with a caretaker, who later informed his relatives about the arrest. Hours later, they received shocking news that he had died while alone in a police cell.
Police officers initially claimed that Brian used a mattress cover to end his own life. However, his family strongly rejected the explanation, insisting he had been tortured and killed while in custody.
His mother, Susan Wambui, said she found blood stains on his clothes and noticed injuries, including bleeding from the nose, when she viewed his body. The family has since demanded justice and a transparent investigation.
An autopsy conducted by government pathologist Johansen Oduor reportedly confirmed that Brian died from strangulation, ruling out suicide and raising serious questions about what transpired inside the police station.
The case has attracted condemnation from human rights activists and legal experts, who argue that custodial deaths are becoming alarmingly common in Kenya without accountability for officers involved.
Law Society of Kenya president Charles Kanjama expressed concern over the growing number of deaths occurring in police custody and called for thorough investigations into such incidents.
Activists from Vocal Africa also questioned the circumstances surrounding Brian’s death, saying the findings reinforce long-standing concerns about abuse and brutality within detention facilities.
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