Detectives train eyes on cops over cover-up of man’s death
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Police officers from Matuu Police Station are in the spotlight after they allegedly colluded with killers and hurriedly organised for the burial of a man without conducting a postmortem to establish the cause of death.
The body of Makau Mutinda alias Kamundi, a former employee of Thika Lodge, was on May 5 found dumped behind the lodge in a pool of water.
Police officers from Matuu Police Station visited the scene and transferred the body to Matuu Level Four Hospital mortuary, saying it was a case of drowning.
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“Fresh investigations have been launched to establish claims of neglect and cover-up by the officers who authorised the body to be released for burial without autopsy,” said police headquarters.
A keen mortuary attendant, Peter Musee Muli, had revealed the body had injuries on the head, lower abdomen and limbs.
The attendant also raised the red flag, saying the deceased could not have drowned as the stomach was not swollen.
Further, body was not photographed at the scene but instead two officers from the same station went and photographed the body at the mortuary on May 6.
“Again, concerns raised by the mortuary attendant were ignored,” said a senior detective.
Kamundi’s brother, Peter Kamende, would then present an affidavit stating they did not want postmortem conducted.
Kamende said police officers had convinced them there was no suspected foul play and also warned him against the autopsy, saying “it was very expensive”.
“The body was released to the family for burial on the strength of a mere affidavit sworn by Kamende having been told by police officers that postmortem required a lot of money,” a police report read.
On May 9, the body was released to the family and buried the following day.
Detectives from the Yatta Directorate of Criminal Investigations then got the information and rushed to Kithimani court and were granted exhumation orders through Miscellaneous Application No. 11 of 2020.
Establish motive
The body was on Tuesday exhumed and a post-mortem conducted by the Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor and witnessed by family members, Yatta police and DCI commanders, Scenes of Crime and Public Health officers.
Dr Odour established the cause of death was head injury. The pathologist also noted the deceased had injuries on the lower limbs and abdomen.
Fresh investigations have been launched to establish the identity and the motive of the killers, and the reason for cover-up by the officers.
At least 15 other killings have been reported across the country since Monday, according to police reports.
On Monday, Maritim Kibet stabbed another man to death after he finding him in a compromising position with his estranged wife in Kapcherop, Elgeyo Marakwet.
The woman, has been questioned by detectives but the suspect is yet to be arrested.
