The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has released a detailed account about the arrest, detention and subsequent death of Dennis Aremo Osiemo, following claims circulating on social media concerning his death while in police custody at Narumoru Police Station.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 22, the investigative agency says Osiemo was arrested following an investigation into a case of assault causing actual bodily harm reported at Narumoru Police Station.

“The complaint related to an incident on 2 July 2026, in which Osiemo, a former farmhand of the complainant, is alleged to have gone to her home, assaulted her and stabbed her several times before fleeing the scene,” the DCI says. “The complainant reported the matter at Narumoru Police Station and was admitted at Tumutumu Hospital, where she remained for nine days.”

According to the DCI, the complainant later raised concerns over the handling of the case with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Nanyuki. It was at this point that the ODPP subsequently directed that the matter be taken over by the DCI.

The case file was forwarded to the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO), Kieni East, on 3 September 2026. Detectives thereafter trailed Osiemo to Kisii, where he was reported to have gone into hiding.

With the assistance of the SCCIO, Masaba North, DCI officers from Kieni East arrested Osiemo in Kisii on 18 September 2026. He was first booked at Keroka Police Station pending collection. He was collected by DCI officers from Kieni East and booked at Narumoru Police Station on 19 September 2026.

On the same day, Osiemo was processed, his statement was recorded, and he was returned to the cells after being observed to be in a normal condition. He was scheduled to be arraigned in court on Monday, 21 September 2026, in connection with the assault case.

Found hanging inside police cell

On Sunday, 20 September 2026, Osiemo was found hanging from the ventilation grills inside the police cell at Narumoru Police Station.

The scene was processed immediately in the presence of officers of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), senior police officers and a relative.

The body was thereafter removed to the Narumoru mortuary pending autopsy.

The investigation into the death has since been taken over by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

“The DCI will accord the Authority full cooperation. The DCI extends its deepest condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the late Dennis Aremo Osiemo. It shares in their grief and assures them, and the public, of its commitment to a transparent process aimed at establishing the full circumstances of his death.”

The agency is urging Kenyans to rely on verified official information and to await the outcome of the independent investigation, rather than draw conclusions from unverified claims circulating on social media.