This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
On September 2, 2019, a 24-year-old Kenyan man, Muchangi Ireri, died mysteriously in a police cell in Embu County.
Ireri was arrested for allegedly stealing from Salvation Army Kigumo Corps (church) in Embu East sub-county.
According to Pastor Dickson Mugendi, the suspect was caught by his wife, who had laid a trap to catch the person responsible for stealing from the church kitchen.
“On that night I went to sleep at around 9.30 pm. My wife hid in the kitchen where she remained praying to God for intervention over the theft of foodstuff and a chicken a few days earlier. The man entered the kitchen around 10.30 pm. She closed the door and screamed for help. Neighbors responded and arrested him,” Pastor Mugendi said.
Ireri was taken to the Kigumo Police Post, where he was detained. The following day, the police informed Pastor Mugendi and his wife that Ireri had died.
Embu East Deputy OCPD Michael Wachira confirmed the incident and stated that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of Ireri's death.
