The Family of a Rumandee Who Died in Eldoret Prison Seeks For Justice
The Family of the late Oliver Okinju a remandee at Eldoret GK prison is seeking justice for their son who was tortured and killed.
According to the postmortem report from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret Kinjo died of Hypoxemia, which is a lack of Oxygen and lung infection.
Okinju who was arrested for robbery with violence has been in remand for more than a year and was set to be released on 12th June 2023 due to a lack of witnesses.
Monica Wanjiru the wife deceased his wife said that Okinju called them last week that he is receiving threats from a prison warden.
“He called me on 29th that the he will be released next week, due to lack of evidence but his life is in danger and he has been told he will not leave the prison alive,” Wanjiru explained.
“He complained that after he told fellow prisoners that he will soon leave the prison, he was locked in a cell where they pour cold water daily and beaten up,” she continued.
Wanjiru later asked him if he is safe and that they could seek a legal way so that he can be transferred to a safer prison but he declined saying that he will try to keep an eye on the prison warden so that he can be safe for the remaining days.
The family demands justice for their son who was tortured in the hands of the wardens.
Human Right Activists led by Haki Africa Director Hussein Khalid want a thorough investigation against the officers involved to be implicated and transferred.
” We’ve received several information from prisoners and the family and have named some officers, we are more concerned about the lives of other prisoners,” Khalid said.
The activists urged the Interior Cabinet Secretary to do more to improve the prisons.
“These are not dungeons where people are not supposed to be tortured but correctional institutes that are meant to correct citizens so that they can reform and get back to the community,” added Khalid
Khalid urged the government to give IPOA a mandate to expand their services to the KWS, prisons, and the County Governments Askaris where human rights are being violated daily.
Kimtai Kirui from the Centre against Torture in Eldoret want a thorough investigation against the officers involved and for them to be suspended.
” We’ve received several calls from prisoners and have named some officers, we are more concerned about the lives of other prisoners,” Kirui said
The activists want reforms in correctional institutes as said by the Interior Cabinet secretary.
“We want CCTV Cameras to be installed in all the prisons so that we can be able to know what is happening inside that place,” added Kirui.
Kirui urges IPOA to expand its mandate to the KWS, prisons, and the County Governments officers in investigating cases.
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