Unrest at Kamiti as prisoner dies in cell
Warden restrain angry relatives of inmates from entering Kamiti maximum Prison after they demanded to be told the identity of the killed inmate on Tuesday. Photo/JAMES NJUGUNA
What you need to know:
- Inmates claim man was bludgeoned to death by warders during operation
A death row inmate died in unclear circumstances at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison on Monday night following an operation by warders to seize illegal mobile phones.
One hundred and fifty six phones and 200 SIM cards were retrieved.
Prison authorities said that the inmate, Ibrahim Ngacha, was sick but prisoners who called the Nation insisted he was bludgeoned to death by the warders.
Video footage sneaked from the prison shows warders whipping naked, screaming inmates.
Wealthier inmates
According to inmates who called the Nation, Ngacha was among 12 sick inmates who were removed from the sickbay at the weekend, including three in wheelchairs and others on crutches, to Block G to pave way for wealthier inmates.
Two inmates who called the Nation separately said that warders launched the operation at about 11am on Monday and ransacked all the cells before reaching Block G, which houses deathrow inmates.
Scalded them
The warders, who were in riot gear, assaulted them with baton sticks as they searched the cells, resulting in Ngacha’s death, the inmates claimed.
Inmates in cell number 36 claim the warders scalded them with hot water.
After the assaults, the prisoners refused to eat and demanded that journalists be allowed into the prison.
A riot nearly broke out as inmates resisted attempts by warders to remove the body from the cell. A senior police officer from Kasarani was called and the body was eventually taken to the City Mortuary.
A Kenya National Commission on Human Rights official, Mr Njonjo Mue, who talked to the inmates, said they had complained bitterly about the warders’ brutality.
“We saw the body and noticed blood in the ears and mouth. We intend to do an independent postmortem examination. At least 12 inmates are injured and we hope they will be taken to hospital,” Mr Mue said.
He said that initial reports indicated that Ngacha and another inmate were taken from their cells on Monday night and badly beaten up before they were brought back unconscious.
The Officer Commanding Kamiti, Joseph Mutebesi told the Nation that Mr Ngacha succumbed to an illness.
