Kianjokoma brothers died from blunt force trauma, not fall from police vehicle

By Newsflash Writer

A government pathologist has told the High Court in Nairobi that the deaths of Embu brothers Benson Njiru, 22, and Emmanuel Mutura, 19, were caused by blunt force trauma, not a fall from a moving police vehicle as claimed by police.

Testifying as the seventh prosecution witness, the doctor said he carried out postmortem examinations on the siblings on August 5, 2021, at Embu Level 5 Hospital in the presence of their relatives and police officers.

Police at the time had alleged that the brothers leapt from a moving vehicle while being taken to Embu Police Station for breaching COVID-19 curfew rules. Their bodies were later recovered along Kiriari Road in Embu.

The witness said his findings directly contradicted the account given by officers, adding that the pattern of injuries was not consistent with a fall from a moving vehicle.

Postmortem findings on Mutura and Njiru

The court heard that Mutura’s body was found in a green T-shirt and black trousers, both intact and with no signs of damage. Externally, he had extensive bruises on the face and neck, with blood oozing from his ears and nostrils. Internally, the doctor documented multiple skull fractures and brain lacerations. He concluded that Mutura died from severe head injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

On Njiru, the doctor testified that he observed blood stains and dust on the body, along with visible deformities on the face and skull. He also found a dislocated shoulder, compound fractures on the leg, and significant injuries to the chest and abdomen. “Internally, there were multiple rib fractures and extensive brain damage,” he told the court.

The pathologist further noted marks on Njiru’s body that were consistent with dragging on a rough surface. His conclusion was that Njiru died from multiple blunt force injuries.

Under cross-examination by lawyer Danstan Omari, representing some of the accused officers, the doctor conceded that falls from vehicles can sometimes result in multiple injuries. However, he maintained that such accidents usually show torn clothing and rolling patterns on the body — features that were absent in both cases.

Case against police officers continues

The postmortems were conducted three days after the brothers were reported dead on August 1, 2021. The deaths sparked protests in Kianjokoma, Embu County, and triggered nationwide condemnation of police conduct during COVID-19 enforcement.

Families of the brothers accused police of brutality and cover-ups, while human rights organisations demanded accountability. The government eventually charged six police officers with murder, and the case is being heard at the Milimani High Court.

The doctor’s testimony has become a central piece of evidence for the prosecution. By directly challenging the police version of events, it supports claims that the brothers were victims of excessive force rather than an accident.

The case remains one of Kenya’s most high-profile examples of alleged police abuses during the pandemic, symbolising broader demands for justice and reforms in law enforcement.