This archive report was first published on 30 June 2021.
On June 30, 2021, a court in Meru made a landmark ruling in favor of Charles Mwenda, a man from Meru who was subjected to inhumane treatment by police officers.
According to the ruling, Mwenda will be awarded Ksh1.5 million in compensation for the traumatic experience he endured when he was forced to spend the night with the corpse of his wife inside a police station.
The incident, which occurred in May 2020, sparked widespread condemnation across the country. Mwenda and a group of over 30 mourners had traveled from Malindi in Kilifi County to Meru to bury his wife, Faith.
However, they were intercepted by police officers in Keeria market, who ordered them to return to Malindi or face quarantine. After an altercation, Mwenda was taken to Kanjai Police station, where he was forced to spend the night with his wife's body.
Not only was Mwenda subjected to this indignity, but he was also rained on, and the coffin was soaked with water. The incident attracted the attention of various organizations, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Judge Edward Murithi directed the Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, to bear the cost of the compensation. Mwenda had argued that he had complied with the Covid-19 regulations, but was still mistreated by the police officers.
