Homa Bay Man Found Dead in Custody, Kin Reject Suicide Claim

The death of a 36-year-old fisherman, Calvins Omondi Onditi, while in police custody at Kipasi Police Post in Mbita Sub-County, has ignited a firestorm of controversy and demands for accountability. 

Omondi's death on Sunday morning has prompted an official investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and notification of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), as his family and community raise serious questions about the circumstances surrounding his demise. Omondi was apprehended around midnight on Saturday following reports from residents of Ndhuru village, who found him allegedly intoxicated inside a goat pen. While the property owner did not press charges, local authorities took Omondi into custody. 

According to police, he was found dead in his cell on Sunday morning, allegedly having taken his own life using his trousers as a noose. Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem suggests the deceased may have been driven to suicide by guilt or shame, fearing social repercussions upon returning to his community. However, Omondi's relatives vehemently reject this theory. His cousin, Geoffrey Ochieng Ouma, who witnessed the arrest, asserts that Omondi showed no signs of distress or suicidal tendencies.

Omondi, a father of two who had moved to Ndhuru from Kodiera in Ndhiwa for work, was well-regarded in the local fishing community. His family insists that his intoxicated state at the time of arrest does not align with the police's suicide narrative. They are calling for a thorough investigation into the conditions of his detention.

Adding to the family's suspicions are discrepancies in the timeline of events. After accompanying Omondi to the police station, relatives were informed that he would be transferred to Mbita Police Station. However, while en route to Mbita, they were redirected back to Kipasi, only to be informed of Omondi's death. The family has also questioned the decision to move Omondi's body before their arrival at the morgue. 

Omondi's uncle, Owino Achieng, accuses the police of deceptive handling of the case, noting the absence of officers at the mortuary when the family arrived.

The death has triggered public outrage in Kipasi, with residents staging protests outside the police post, demanding transparency in the investigation.