Industrial Area Prison

The famous Industrial Area Prison in Nairobi has been put under pressure to provide answers over mysterious death of a man they had locked up.

Family of the deceased Mark Nyamweya has demanded answers from the Prisons department over the death of their 27-year-old relative.

According to reports by one of the local dailies, Nyamweya died at the Prison last Tuesday after he failed to pay Sh200 fine. He could not pay the money to secure his release.

Nyamweya, alongside five others, were arraigned in Makadara and charged with being drunk and disorderly.  He pleaded guilty and was fined Sh200, with an alternative sentence of seven days in custody.  He was locked up.

His relatives say the circumstances surrounding his death were suspect. 

Family spokesman Nelson Mageto on Saturday said Kayole’s Soweto police and Industrial Area Prison should come clean on Nyamweya’s death.

He questioned why his nephew was arrested with 42 others but only six of them were arraigned.

He took issue with the Soweto police for failing to inform them of his arrest. They were not aware that Nyamweya had been arrested and arraigned until they were informed of his demise, he said.

A police source from the prison said Nyamweya died after developing stomach problems. “He felt bad, complained of stomach problems. He vomited and had diarrhoea before he died.”

The relatives were informed of the death by an officer from the prison who traced the club in which the deceased was arrested with the help of James Ongondi, who had been detained with Nyamweya. 

They were booked under OB NO 21/6/7/2019 at 11am.

On Nyamweya’s condition, he said, “A police officer brought him some drugs and water, which he took at around 12am on Tuesday. At 4am, he again started groaning in pain. He cried until around 5am. We banged the door, but no officer responded.” 

He said an officer brought porridge for Nyamweya at 6am. He took it and later died.

The relatives questioned the nature of the drug that was administered to Nyamweya, who diagnosed him, with what ailment and why the prison’s administration could not take him for emergency services.

His brother, Daniel, said they grew up orphans and Nyamweya had only stayed on Soweto estate for two months. He previously lived in Mathare North slum.  

The family has sought help from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, with claims the officers at the station were not cooperative.

In a letter, the authority has sought documents from the Soweto police station boss.

“The complainant requests for OB Number, extract and charge sheet as regard his nephew Mark Nyamweya who was arrested on July 8. He was committed to Industrial Area Prison and was found dead on July 9. Please accord him necessary assistance,” the letter dated July 11 reads.

It was signed by IPOA’s complaints management officer.to IPOA so their investigators do their job.