The investigation into the death of 19-year-old Erick Otieno, who died shortly after being held at Muthaiga Police Station, has officially been handed over to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the National Police Service (NPS) has announced.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had immediately launched investigations after being informed of Otieno’s death. However, the case has since been transferred to IPOA, the agency mandated to investigate incidents involving police officers.
“Immediately after the report of his death was received, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations commenced investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The matter has since been taken over by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority,” Nyaga said.
According to his family, #Otieno, a boda boda rider from Nairobi’s Mathare area, was released from police custody on Sunday, August 2, before being rushed to Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the facility.