Family of Mathare boda boda rider Eric Otieno alleges police demanded KSh 10,000 bail before his death
Eric Otieno, a boda boda rider from Mathare, died hours after being released from Muthaiga Police Station. His family alleges he was tortured in custody and that officers demanded KSh 10,000 bail for his release. Otieno was arrested on Saturday, August 2, 2026, on charges of preparation to commit a felony and released on Sunday, August 3, around 11 PM. His elder brother, Emmanuel Sakis, stated that Otieno was in severe pain upon release and claimed five arresting officers had beaten him. A post-mortem examination revealed Otieno died from massive internal hemorrhage caused by abdominal trauma, including a ruptured spleen and injured bowel. Human rights activists have called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure accountability for the implicated officers and to install CCTV cameras in police stations.
