The quiet community of Kipipiri in Nyandarua County has been jolted by a deeply troubling incident involving the death of 44-year-old Ruigi Ndubi, who reportedly died by suicide while in police custody at Turasha Police Station. The case has drawn widespread public outrage and demands for a thorough and independent investigation.
According to an initial police report, Ndubi was arrested for allegedly obstructing officers in the line of duty and appeared to be intoxicated at the time. He was booked under OB No. 6/23/6/2025 and placed in a cell. The report claims that during a routine cell check shortly before 1 p.m., officers discovered Ndubi had hanged himself using a shirt tied to the padlock of the inner cell door.
However, this narrative is being strongly contested by Ndubi’s family, who argue that the circumstances surrounding his death do not support the suicide claim.
A relative, Simon Irungu, told the media that the deceased was found with his knees touching the ground, a position inconsistent with hanging. “It doesn’t make sense. The place they are describing is barely a foot high. That kind of posture raises serious doubts,” Irungu said, adding that the family is still unclear about the exact circumstances of his arrest.
Local leaders have also joined the outcry. Githioro Ward MCA Isaac Mbae has called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch a full probe. Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia has condemned what she described as a rising pattern of police brutality and urged President Ruto’s administration to take swift action to protect citizens from abuse by law enforcement.
The family, along with concerned leaders and residents, now awaits a transparent postmortem and an impartial investigation to uncover the truth. For many in Kipipiri, justice for Ruigi Ndubi has become a test of the state’s willingness to hold security officers accountable.
