Magistrates and lawyers call for improvement of police cells

Judicial officers in Embu County have urged the Interior Ministry to improve the state of police cells, saying the human dignity of suspects must be protected.

Led by Runyenjes Senior Resident Magistrate Beatrice Kimemia, the judicial officers said that most of the police cells across the country are in deplorable conditions and are not fit for human habitation

The members of the judiciary were part of Embu’s Bench and Bar Association which donated items including blankets, mattresses and toilet papers to Juvenile inmates held at Runyenjes Police Station as they wait for the courts to decide their fate.

“Police stations are the only place to hold suspects as they undergo trial and they thus need to be kept clean,” the Association said.

Magistrate Kimemia said that the move to visit and donate items to the juvenile inmates at Runyenjes police station was aimed at improving their living conditions even as they await court verdicts in their respective cases.

“Most children are sent to such facilities as children in need of care and protection and thus subjecting them to poor conditions is inhuman. The plight of minors who are being held in police stations across the country should be looked into,” said the magistrate.

Embu East OCPD Peter Muchemi said that Runyenjes police station was the only police facility within Embu county gazetted to hold the minors as they wait for court trials to end.

“Most of the inmates are children who need care and protection as they have not committed any offence.” said the area OCPD.