Police launch investigations after university student dies from alleged caning

 

Police in Nyamira have launched investigations into circumstances that led to the death of a university student allegedly at the hands of family members.

Brian Mogaka, 22, a student at Chuka University, is said to have died while being disciplined by his uncles at their home in Nyakongo, Nyamira North.

A close family member who sought anonymity said Mogaka had been expelled from the institution for being involved in the usage of prohibited drugs.

"He used to abuse drugs and the University sent him away because of the same problem," the relative said, adding that the deceased had been punished the entire day.

"The mother had sought help from the boy's uncles, whom he authorised to beat him up. They tied his hands and legs before unleashing terror on him the whole day," the kin said.

However, the uncles' account contradicted that of other villagers who pointed an accusing finger at the family for administering undeserved punishment to the deceased.

The uncles had claimed that the deceased had swallowed poison after the punishment.

The villagers said that after beating him unconscious, they changed his clothes, laid him on a bed, and planted an acaricide beside him.

"When they realised he had died, they changed his clothes and laid him in bed and planted the pesticide used on cows in order to conceal any suspicion of murder," one of the relatives said.

Police officers from Nyamira North visited the home on Wednesday, but they have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.

They transferred the body to Nyamira County Referral Hospital, where post-mortem is expected to be done.

Joseph Masese, Ikonge Sublocation Assistant Chief, said the body of the deceased bore several bruises and injuries that he suspected may have resulted from physical assault.