This archive report was first published on 16 August 2021.
On August 13, 2021, the Kianjokoma brothers were laid to rest in a single grave, a somber reminder of the tragic events that unfolded in Embu. The brothers, Benson Njiru, 22, and Emmanuel Mutura, 19, were arrested on August 1 for allegedly violating the 10pm-4am curfew outside their family shop in Kianjokoma shopping centre.
However, their families claim that the brothers were physically assaulted by police officers attached to Manyatta station. The siblings' bodies were found at the Embu Level 5 Hospital morgue on August 3, with postmortem results indicating that they died of multiple head and rib injuries.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai assured the public that justice would be served, but emphasized the need for due process and concrete evidence to stand trial in court. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has concluded investigations and forwarded the file to the DPP.
Embattled Embu North Sub-County Police Commander, Emily Ngaruiya, denied allegations that police officers killed the duo, claiming that they died after jumping off a moving police van. However, her remarks sparked protests in Embu, where police used live bullets to disperse crowds, resulting in one fatality.
Following the incident, Ngaruiya and Manyatta OCS Abdullahi Yaya were removed from their positions on August 6, with Abdullahi Adan Alio replacing Ngaruiya as Embu North Sub-County Police Commander.
