Suspected Covid-19 patient dies in police cell

A man suspected of having contracted Covid-19 died at Isebania Police Station.

Kuria West sub-county Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo said Samuel Marwa was confirmed dead by a medic who went to visit him in the cell for normal check-up.

“The said convicted person had earlier tested Covid-19 positive together with other two prisoners,” said Kimaiyo.

Together with other prisoners, Lukopa Prospaa, 35, and Imani Issa, 23, both Congolese, the police boss said, the three were escorted to Migori GK Prison on April 1 for isolation but the prison authorities declined to admit them due to their Covid-19 status.

A court had sentenced the deceased to six month in prison or Sh10,000 fine after he was found guilty of being in possession of an illicit brew.

“The medical personnel were called and on examining the said person suspected to be an epileptic case combined with Covid-19,” said Kimaiyo.

The father of the deceased, Amos Ghati, 67, from Kohego village in Bukira West told The Standard his son was also suffering from head injuries he sustained after he fell on a tarmac road.

“We were saddened with the report we received this morning informing us of the death of our son but we are calling for investigation to be conducted to establish what might have caused his death,” said Ghati.

The body was moved to Migori County Referral Hospital.

The incident came three days after a 45-year old man was found dead at Ragana police post in Suna West.

Henry Wanga Aura’s body was discovered by police officers on duty on Saturday.

Wanga, a teacher at Tom Mboya Ragana Primary was arrested on Friday after an alleged altercation with his wife who later reported to police.

According to Wanga’s mother, Rosenael Aura, the deceased was arrested on Friday evening. “He had a scuffle with the wife. I heard his wife shout but assumed it was a normal marital issue,” she said.

ckingwara@standardmedia.co.ke