The family of a suspect who allegedly committed suicide with shoelaces in a police cell in Rangwe Sub-county have called for thorough investigations into the circumstances of the death.
The family members said that they were doubting the circumstances under which their kin died.
The man identified as a Wycliffe Omondi 35, allegedly committed suicide at Ngegu Police Station.
Preliminary reports indicated that Omondi killed himself using shoelaces which he tied to the ventilation spaces in the cell.
The deceased is said to have committed suicide a few hours after being arrested over theft of a cow in Central Kochia Location, Rangwe Sub-county.
The suspect was arrested after he was found herding the cow towards Kendu Bay Town in Rachuonyo North Sub-county.
However, when some of his family members went to the police station to follow up on his arrest, they were told that Omondi had taken away his life by hanging himself with shoelaces.
But his family has now cast doubt on the suicide claims.
Omondi’s father David Dengu, a resident of Kochia Central Location, expressed doubts about the ability of the laces to hang an adult human body without snapping.
“I went to the police station and found that my son had allegedly committed suicide using conjoined shoe laces. I wonder if such thin laces could kill,” Dengu said.
He however, said he was not ready to take the case to court saying litigation will not resurrect his son.
“It is sad, but I am not ready to proceed with a court case on this matter. Even if we attend court proceedings for ten years, it will not resurrect him,” Dengu added.
He appealed to well-wishers to support his family give his son a good send off.
“I appeal to well-wishers to support me in burying my son, we are struggling peasants.” Dengu added.
Lazarus Ouma, Omondi’s cousin also expressed doubts over Omondi’s death.
“We have unanswered questions on what killed my cousin. We will bury him, but we hope anybody who had a hand on his death will one day for the sin.” Ouma said.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem said investigations are going on over Omondi’s death.
Koilem said they had reported the matter to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for investigations.
“We have reported the matter to the IPOA and investigations are going on to establish what caused the death. We will eventually rely on the findings of the probe to enable us to take appropriate action,” Koilem said.
By Davis Langat
