A family in Nanyuki is mourning the tragic death of Julie Njoki, a young woman who allegedly succumbed to injuries sustained while in police custody, days after being arrested during the Saba Saba demonstrations.
Julie was arrested on Monday, July 7, during nationwide protests and detained at the Nanyuki Police Station. According to her family, she was assaulted while in custody, sustaining critical injuries that were allegedly ignored by police officers.
In a heartbreaking statement, Njoki’s aunt described the events leading to her niece’s death and condemned the brutality she believes was meted out by officers who were supposed to ensure her safety.
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“Julie was arrested in Nanyuki, a town I once thought was peaceful. The next day, she was taken to the Nanyuki Law Court, and judgment was passed. That same night, in police custody, she was brutally beaten. The same people who are meant to protect her left her unconscious,” she wrote.
The family revealed that Njoki was eventually taken to hospital, where a medical report confirmed that she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head—injuries consistent with severe physical assault.
Her condition, however, was allegedly met with negligence and delay.
“This critical condition was met with delays, carelessness, and silence. By the time real help came, it was too late. We lost Julie. She didn’t deserve to die. No one does,” her aunt continued.
The family has accused the police of not only failing to protect Julie, but also attempting to conceal the nature and cause of her injuries.
“I’m broken. I’m angry. I’m grieving. How do you jail a Gen Z on Monday and report them dead by Wednesday? How are we supposed to trust a system that kills the very people it’s meant to protect?” the aunt lamented.
Julie’s death has sparked a wave of public outrage and renewed calls for accountability in the face of rising cases of police brutality, particularly targeting young people involved in recent protests.
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