Tension has gripped Komwamu area in Kuria West, Migori County, after Alan (also reported as Allan) Kamau Kimani, aged between 40 and 41, died while in police custody.
According to several reports, Kimani was arrested on Thursday, September 25, 2025, allegedly for malicious damage to property following a complaint by a relative. He was taken to Komwamu Police Post, where he was booked as he awaited transfer to Isebania Police Station.
Police say that on the morning of Friday, September 26, Kimani was found dead in his cell, having allegedly hanged himself using a shirt tied to the window grill. Officers at the post reported the incident, after which his body was moved to the mortuary.
Kimani’s mother, Mary Wambui, has strongly disputed the suicide claim.
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She told reporters that after her son’s arrest, she was contacted by a police officer who allegedly demanded KSh 15,000 for his release.
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Wambui further claims that the following day, before her son’s death, the officer threatened her with “dire consequences” if she failed to deliver the money.
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Hours later, she says she received another call from the same officer, this time informing her of her son’s death.
The claims of bribe demands and threats are based solely on the family’s account. They have not been independently verified by police, IPOA, or other official bodies.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has confirmed it has launched investigations into the incident. IPOA has already dispatched officers to Migori to gather evidence and has assured the public that the matter will be treated with urgency.
This case adds to a growing list of custodial deaths in Migori and across Kenya, many of which police often describe as suicides. Human rights groups and local leaders have called for transparency and accountability in handling such cases.
it is confirmed that Kimani was arrested, booked at Komwamu Police Post, and later died in custody — police say by suicide. What remains unconfirmed are the family’s claims that officers demanded a bribe and issued threats prior to his death.
