Two police officers arrested over killing of Dennis Lusava; suspect found dumped in River Nzoia

Two police officers based at Mbururu Police Post in Kakamega County have been arrested by DCI detectives in connection with the killing of a suspect identified as Dennis Lusava alias Makali.

Lusava is reported to have been arrested on October 7, 2020 for allegedly failing to wear a face mask. However, police claim the suspect was arrested for assaulting a police officer.

He disappeared a day later only for his body to be found floating on River Nzoia in Webuye on October 11.

In a communication issued Sunday morning, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said homicide detectives probing the death have arrested two police officers for interrogation.

“Both officer are in our custody for investigative interviewing,” said the DCI.

The arrest of the officers comes after an autopsy revealed that Lusava lost his life to repeated blunt force trauma.

Sources privy to the high level investigations revealed to Citizen TV that detectives believe Lusava was tortured by 7 police officers wielding clubs and whips; this conclusion being informed by the recovery of five anti-riot clubs and two electricity cables believed to have been used to whip the suspect.

According to police, Lusava was arrested on 7th October 2020 for assaulting the officer in charge of Mbururu patrol base but was released on a free bond at 12.40pm pending the filling of a P3 form.

The suspect’s mother went to the base the following day and reported that her son never went home after being released, whereby she was referred to the OCS Matunda Police Station for further assistance.

“The OCS who responded to the complaint went ahead to the patrol base where he found the rowdy mob of about 200 people, and his attempt to address them fell on deaf ears,” said the DCI on October 9, 2020.

The DCI added: “Instead, the mob pelted stones on him where he incurred serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, before torching the patrol base and damaging the police motor vehicle.”