Autopsy Reveals Cause of Eldoret Prison Inmate’s Death

By Cynthia Ochieng

An autopsy conducted on the body of the late Oliver Ochieng, a remandee at the Eldoret GK Prisons has revealed that he might have been a victim of torture.

According to the autopsy, Ochieng died as a result of a lack of air.

He also had body scratches and defence marks on his right arm – an indication of struggle before death.

Further, an examination of the body which was done at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary in Eldoret revealed that he had lung infections, findings that might collaborate with claims that he had been put in confinement and subjected to water torture while in prison.

It seems our prisons are slowly shifting from being correctional centres to dungeons,” said HAKI Africa’s Senior Programmes Officer, Hussein Khalid after the autopsy on Tuesday.

Past photo of inmates in a Kenyan prison.
Past photo of inmates in a Kenyan prison.

The inmate, who was facing robbery with violence charges is said to have died on Saturday under unclear circumstances.

There are claims that he was killed by a prison warder.

However, officials at the Eldoret GK Prisons are said to have told the family that Ochieng died of suicide.

But as the probe into the circumstances under which the death occurred gathers momentum, the family has called for justice for their kin.

Threats from prison warders

Monica Njeri, the deceased wife told Journalists in Eldoret that his husband usually complained of regular assault, torture and threats from prison warders.

He had been in remand for over a year, facing robbery with violence charges.

The family says the 28-year-old was set to be set free on June 12, 2023, as for the years the case had been ongoing, no witnesses had been presented in court.

Every time we communicated, he told me about one particular warder who would constantly threaten him that he will not get out of the cells alive,” said Njeri.

HAKI Africa’s Senior Programmes Officer, Hussein Khalid (centre) with Eldoret based human rights activist Kimutai Kirui with the family of the deceased addressing the [ress at MTRH on June 6, 2023.
HAKI Africa’s Senior Programmes Officer, Hussein Khalid (centre) with Eldoret-based human rights activist Kimutai Kirui (left) with the family of the deceased addressing the press at MTRH on June 6, 2023.
Human rights activists are now calling for the suspension of prison warders that have been linked to Ochieng’s death.

They have also appealed to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to hasten the ongoing police reforms – which they said should include the mandate of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to cover for the Kenya Prisons Service.

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