The management at Nairobi-based nightclub Dejavu Lounge has finally bowed to social media pressure and addressed a suspected homicide case that reportedly took place at the establishment last Saturday.
For the better part of the day, local blogs and tabloids were awash with the controversial story of how a group of bouncers at the popular entertainment joint located along Rhapta Road in Westlands brutally flogged one of their customers to death on suspicion of mobile phone theft.
According to a preliminary autopsy report, the middle-aged victim identified as Charles Chege died as a result of death multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.
A disturbing video that circulated online, showed a glimpse of how the rogue security guards mercilessly battered Mr Chege inside a secluded private room for over 3 hours.
By the time they were done with their inhumane punishment, the father of three had already lost his life.
Media reports claimed that the bouncers later hurriedly roughed up the dead body and stashed at a nearby bush just a few metres from the club.
This was where police officers based at the Kilimani Sub-county police station discovered the body on the morning of Sunday 6th March 2022 and transferred it to City Mortuary.
But in a press statement issued by Dejavu Lounge on the evening of Friday, 11th March 2022, the establishment vehemently denied any involvement in the death of Charles Chege.
The management notes that although they admit to the fact that their bouncers were captured on tape physically assaulting the reveller, purported CCTV footage from their records shows that Mr Chege was still alive when he was evacuated from the premises. "Deja Vu is aware of the video aired on K24 TV depicting the beating of a man alleged to have stolen a phone on our premises. We do not allow, condone or agree with any such unlawful punishment on our premises and condemn it in the strongest terms. Our CCTV footage however shows that the man was alive at the time of being evacuated from the premises. What transpired after he left is under investigation by the DCI and we are cooperating with them fully in this regard. We wish to express our deepest condolences to the family of Charles Chege," they wrote in the statement shared on their Instagram page. On Monday, 7th March 2022, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrived at the club and arrested the manager, 2 bouncers as well as 5 other employees linked to the gruesome murder.
The eight are currently in custody as investigations into the matter continue.