A suspect who had been arrested in connection with the death of his fiancée died while in police custody at Longisa Police Station in Bomet County.

The suspect, identified by police as Anthony Njenga Kariuki, 33, had been arrested on Tuesday in relation to the death of Caro Ngetich, a teacher.

Ngetich was found dead about a week ago at her rented house in the Longisa area.

Kariuki was arraigned before a Bomet court earlier on Wednesday, where the prosecution sought and obtained orders to detain him for seven more days to allow police to complete investigations.

He was returned to Longisa Police Station at around 1.30 pm and placed back in custody.

Bomet East Sub-County Police Commander Michael Mwenda said officers later found Kariuki unresponsive inside his cell during a routine check.

“The suspect was found unresponsive in his cell during a normal routine inspection by officers on duty. Preliminary indications suggest he died while alone in custody,” Mwenda said.

He added that investigations had been launched to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, even as police continue to investigate the death of Ngetich.

The incident has deepened the distress of Ngetich’s family, colleagues and members of the community, who had been awaiting the outcome of investigations into her death.

According to the family, a postmortem examination conducted on Wednesday at Longisa County Referral Hospital indicated that Ngetich sustained spinal injuries and was about one month pregnant at the time of her death.

Janet Ngetich, Caro’s sister, said the family had initially been informed that her sister may have slipped and fallen at the scene where her body was found.

However, she said this account differed from the findings of the postmortem examination.

“We want justice for our sister. What we were told at the scene is completely different from what the postmortem revealed,” Janet said, adding that the family is calling for thorough and independent investigations.

The Bomet County branch of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) also expressed concern over the matter.

Branch Executive Secretary Paul Kimeto described Ngetich’s death as tragic and called for comprehensive and speedy investigations.

Kimeto urged law enforcement agencies to ensure transparency and accountability as inquiries into both deaths continue.

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