Summary:
The High Court in Eldoret has convicted two police officers for the brutal torture and murder of Dennis Lusava at Mbururu Police Post in 2020. Justice Nyakundi ruled that the officers were responsible for his death and the illegal disposal of his body in River Nzoia.
The High Court in Eldoret on Monday, July 28, 2025, convicted two police officers for the torture and murder of Dennis Lusava, a young man who died in custody at Mbururu Police Post, before his body was dumped in River Nzoia in October 2020.
Justice Nyakundi, in delivering the ruling, stated that Dennis was last seen alive in the custody of the convicted officers, PC Reuben Yator and Godwine Wekesa Sirengo, who orchestrated a deliberate cover-up to escape accountability.
Landmark Conviction for Custodial Deaths
Janice Muchemi, an advocate from International Justice Mission (IJM) who represented the Lusava family, called the conviction a “significant milestone in the fight against custodial torture and impunity.”
IJM Country Director Vincent Chahale echoed the sentiment, highlighting the growing trend of deaths in police custody across Kenya.
“The conviction of these two officers sends a strong message that justice is possible and that rogue officers cannot continue to operate with impunity,”
Timeline of the Case
On October 4, 2020, Dennis Lusava had an altercation with officers Yator and Sirengo in Mbururu town. Eyewitnesses say the public intervened, preventing the officers from arresting or harassing him.
In what appeared to be a retaliatory act, the officers reportedly used a friend to lure Dennis to the police post on October 7, where he was arrested and handcuffed to a window.
Agnes Ambale, Dennis’ mother, visited the station and found her son in serious pain, visibly bruised. Despite her pleas for his release and medical treatment, she was told to return with Ksh 2,000 for bail.
When Dennis attempted to leave for treatment, he was forcibly brought back.
Murder, Cover-up and Recovery
The officers allegedly transported his lifeless body to Webuye and dumped it in River Nzoia. They then altered the police Occurrence Book (OB) to falsely record that Dennis had been released from custody.
On October 11, 2020, Dennis’ body was found and identified by his family. A post-mortem confirmed he had suffered extensive internal and external injuries, resulting in circulatory failure.
Following public outcry and an investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the two officers were arrested and charged with murder.
The trial was presided over by Justice Nyakundi, with Mr. Mugun and Ms. Kirenge leading the prosecution. A total of 21 witnesses testified, and 27 pieces of evidence were presented before the court.
A Warning to Abusive Officers
This ruling marks a rare conviction in cases involving police killings, a category where prosecution success has historically been low due to systemic cover-ups and intimidation.
Rights groups, including IJM, have called on the state to ensure justice for other victims of police abuse, calling the Lusava ruling a precedent-setting moment.
“We hope this will serve as a deterrent. Kenya cannot afford to normalise deaths in custody,” said IJM’s Chahale.
