Grief an anger has engulfed a village in Mwea East, Kirinyaga County, after a pregnant woman died after allegedly being thrown out of a moving police vehicle.
The incident that shocked Mugamba Ciura Village on Friday, October 2, also saw the woman’s husband injured after he was forced to jump from the police vehicle.
But what happened?
According to residents who spoke to TV47 Digital, it all started at around 3 pm when a group of residents wanted to go to their miraa farms to harvest the cash crop.
But as they were waiting for bodaboda as a means of transport, a known police vehicle drove by and made a stop.
“Tukiwa kwa junction tukiwa tunangoja pikipiki serikali iliingia hapo ikatuuliza ni nini tunafanya. Tulipowaambia tunaenda shambani wakatuambia watatusaidia. Wakatupa lift hadi hapa Precious,” Anthony Muturi told TV47 Digital.
However, upon reaching their destination, all hell broke lose after the police officers allegedly refused to stop the vehicle, demanding that the villagers pay them KSh500 before they can be released.
It is at this point that the residents started scampering, jumping from the moving vehicles. However, Muturi says that the deceased was not able to jump from the moving vehicle, and the officers sped with her.
“Walipoenda na bibi alipatikana amekufia hapo kwa barabara. Polisi walijaribu kudanganya ati gari imemgonga lakini siyo gari ilimgonga.”
“Ni lift tulikuwa tumepewa tukitoka kanisani. Tulipofika Itangi, wakatuitisha kila mtu KSh500, na ni lift tulikuwa tumepewa,” another resident narrated the ordeal.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), the body of the woman identified as Catherine Njeri had visible injuries to her head and hip.
“Kirinyaga County DCI officers, led by the CCIO, promptly joined local Sub-County police investigators at the scene and commenced investigations into the cause of death,” the NPS says, adding that the Central Regional Police command, led by the Regional Criminal Investigations Officer (RCIO), has also joined the county team in the investigations.
The NPS Inspector General has also been briefed on this “heinous crime” and has directed the Director of Criminal Investigations to expedite the investigation and catablish the facts.
“The NPS condoles with the family, relatives, and friends of the deceased and commits to expeditious and conclusive investigations to ensure that any person or persons responsible for this barbaric crime are brought to justice. The public and residents of Itangi are urged to remain calm and refrain from speculation while supporting the investigators. Anyone with information regarding this murder is is asked to report to the nearest police station or a law enforcement officer, or via the toll-free numbers 999, 911, or anonymously via #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp 0709 570.000.”
