This followed the death of a 25-year-old Lucky Odhiambo Okoth who was found dead in his cell on Friday morning, April 17, 2026.
Okoth’s body, according to police reports, was discovered hanging from an improvised rope made of torn clothing. He was alone in the cell, even though 21 other prisoners were held at the station at the time.
The discovery sparked immediate calls for an independent investigation, with human rights groups questioning how a suspect under police watch could take his own life in such isolated conditions.
The deceased was detained days earlier for allegedly abducting a 17-year-old girl, the daughter of a senior officer at GK Prison in Malindi.
On April 11, the girl went missing and the suspect is said to have contacted her family, demanding Sh 200,000 ransom, and even let her speak briefly with her father to prove she was alive.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) tracked Okoth using phone data and M-Pesa records. He was arrested in the Sabasaba/Muyeye area of Malindi after withdrawing part of the ransom.
The girl was rescued safely and received medical checks at Malindi Sub-County Hospital. Police later suggested the girl may have conspired with Okoth to stage the abduction and extort money from her father.
According to the official police report, Okoth was found hanging early on April 17. He had been kept in a separate cell by himself.
No official cause of death has been released beyond the apparent suicide, and a post-mortem is expected.
The fact that he was alone has raised serious questions about oversight and safety in police holding cells.
Human rights group Vocal Africa was among the first to raise the alarm. In a statement on April 18, CEO Hussein Khalid described the case as “puzzling.”he demand for closure into Okoth’s death.
He quoted the police report directly: “The report says there were 21 other prisoners at the station, but that Lucky was in one cell alone!”Vocal Africa, together with the Malindi Community Human Rights Centre, has called for the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to lead a thorough investigation.
It is evident that there has been a rise in a number of people who died while in police custody. Human rights advocates say at least 20 people have died in police custody across Kenya in the first four months of 2026 alone.
IPOA is already investigating similar cases, including the death of Benard Cheruiyot at Keringet Police Station in March. Authorities had reported that he had repeatedly hit his head against the wall claims which were disputed by his family.
Cheruiyot, according to family, had suffered extensive trauma, including visible injuries to his head, eyes, and mouth.
Pressure is now mounting on Malindi police and the National Police Service to explain what safeguards were in place.
