Policeman under scrutiny over widow's death

Crime Scene Tape. [Courtesy, iStockphoto]

A police officer in Trans-Nzoia County is under scrutiny regarding the mysterious death of a widow that occurred on Sunday night.

The officer, assigned to Kitale airstrip, allegedly removed the woman’s body from his home and took it to Kijana Wamalwa Teaching and Referral Hospital (KMRTH) without informing her family, where he initiated a postmortem process.

According to the deceased woman's brother, Barnabus Singoey, the family learned of her death through her daughter, Chelimo.

On Monday, Monica's family stopped the postmortem process, citing concerns about foul play.

Barnabus claimed that Officer David Rugut informed Chelimo late Sunday night that her mother had died under unclear circumstances.

Chelimo then notified Barnabus, prompting him to contact Rugut for more information.

“After I received the tragic news from my niece, I reached out to Rugut to understand what had happened to my sister,” Barnabus told the Standard.

He stated that Rugut provided details about the incident and suggested that he was managing the situation, assuring them that there was no need for family members to travel to Burnt Forest to Kitale.

However, when the family arrived at KMRTH, they found Rugut initiating the postmortem process without their consent.

Monica had attended a church service at KAG in Moi's Bridge on Sunday before traveling to Kitale to visit her sister, Paziliza Tarus.

According to Barnabus, on her way to her sister’s home in Bidii, Rugut had requested that she meet him first.

“Our information is that my sister had traveled to Kitale to visit our sister when Rugut asked her to meet him. He told her he was on a duty at Birunda and that my sister was waiting for him at a shop near Kitale airstrip,” said Barnabus.

He alleged that after they arrived at Rugut's house, Monica experienced stomach pains.

Rugut reportedly gave her milk before she collapsed and died. Rugut later claimed that he tried to rush her to the hospital to save her life.

At KMRTH, Barnabus and his sister Paziliza confronted a pathologist engaged by Rugut to conduct the postmortem.

“Rugut could not explain to us what happened to our sister and why he was hastily organising a postmortem. We suspected foul play and halted the process,” he said.

The family accused Rugut of attempting to cover up the circumstances surrounding Monica's death.

“Our sister died while in Rugut's care, and he secretly moved her body to the morgue. This was not handled properly, and he arranged for a postmortem without our knowledge. His actions are questionable,” Barnabus stated.

Kitale West OCPD Eric Ngetich confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the matter.

“The case is being handled by the DCI in Kiminini sub-county, and a postmortem will be conducted to determine the cause of the woman’s death,” Ngetich told the Standard.

As of yesterday evening, Monica's family was recording statements at the DCI office in Kiminini. Notably, Monica lost her husband last year and was reportedly in a relationship with Rugut.