The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has released a detailed account of the arrest, detention, and death of Dennis Aremo Osiemo, who died in police custody at Narumoru Police Station. According to the DCI, Osiemo was arrested in connection with investigations into a reported case of assault causing actual bodily harm. The complaint arose from an incident on July 2, 2026, involving Osiemo, who was a former farmhand of the complainant.
The DCI said Osiemo was alleged to have gone to the complainant's home, assaulted her, and stabbed her several times before fleeing the scene. The complainant reported the matter at Narumoru Police Station and was admitted to Tumutumu Hospital, where she remained for nine days. The DCI said the complainant later raised concerns over the handling of the case with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Nanyuki.
The ODPP subsequently directed that the matter be taken over by the DCI, and the case file was forwarded to the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer, Kieni East, on September 3, 2026. Detectives later traced Osiemo to Kisii, where the DCI said 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 September 18, 2026.
He was initially booked at Keroka Police Station pending collection and later collected by DCI officers from Kieni East and booked at Narumoru Police Station on September 19. The DCI said Osiemo was processed on the same day, and his statement was recorded. He was then returned to the cells after being observed to be in normal condition and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, September 21, 2026.
However, on Sunday, September 20, the DCI said 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 from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), senior police officers, and a relative. His body was later removed to the Narumoru mortuary pending an autopsy.
The DCI said the investigation into Osiemo's death had been taken over by IPOA, adding that it would cooperate fully with the oversight authority. The agency also extended its condolences to Osiemo's family, relatives, and friends, saying it shared in their grief. The DCI said it was committed to a transparent process aimed at establishing the full circumstances of his death.
The agency urged the public to rely on verified official information as the independent investigation proceeds, rather than drawing conclusions from unverified claims circulating on social media. The DCI's statement comes amid claims circulating on social media about Osiemo's death while in police custody.
Key points
- The DCI has issued a detailed account of the arrest, detention, and death of Dennis Aremo Osiemo.
- Osiemo was found hanging from the ventilation grills inside the police cell at Narumoru Police Station.
- The investigation into Osiemo's death has been taken over by IPOA.
