A family in Turuini village, Gatundu North, Kiambu County, is calling for justice after their 17-year-old son was brutally tortured and burned in a disturbing assault allegedly involving a police officer and local farm workers.
The victim, Onesmus Kariuki, sustained severe burns and injuries after being accused of stealing two kilograms of coffee cherries from a local plantation on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. According to his account, the ordeal began when farm workers caught him and attacked him before handing him over to a man the family claims is a police officer.
“I begged him not to kill me but to take me to the farm owner. The owner cut my finger before handing me over to a police officer identified as John,” Kariuki recounted.
He said his hands and legs were tied before his attackers melted plastic and poured it onto his body, causing excruciating burns. When his clothes prevented the plastic from sticking, they were torn off and the assault continued.
“They even poured ants on my body and left me tied in the rain. I couldn’t move,” Kariuki said.
Held Overnight Despite Injuries
Kariuki was later taken to Kamwangi Police Station, where the complainants were instructed to take him to hospital before he was booked under OB No. 15/29/10/2025. Despite his severe injuries, he was detained overnight and only released the following day before being charged in court.
A letter from the station, dated October 30, 2025, and signed by an officer identified as Jackson Kelly, directed him to report back on November 7, 2025, to assist in ongoing investigations.
“You are hereby required to report to Kamwangi Police Station on November 7, 2025, at 10 a.m., having reason to believe that you have information relevant to an alleged offence of stealing farm produce,” the letter stated.
Family’s Plea for Justice
Kariuki’s mother, Salome Muthoni Kirumba, said the assault has left her son in unbearable pain and the family traumatised.
“My son spent the night in a cold cell with open wounds. I can’t eat or sleep seeing him suffer like this. How can people be so cruel?” she lamented.
She added that she was unable to raise the KSh 5,000 bond demanded for her son’s release, and accused the complainants of withholding his torn clothes, which she believes would serve as key evidence in the case.
“What was done to my son is not only inhuman but unconstitutional. If he was guilty, he should have faced justice in court, not torture,” she added.
Kariuki’s sister, Alice Wanjiru, echoed the family’s appeal for intervention from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and other oversight authorities.
“Even if he made a mistake, nothing justifies such brutality. Our brother is in pain and can hardly eat or sleep. We just want justice,” she said.
The incident has sparked outrage among local residents and human rights advocates, who are calling for a transparent investigation and accountability for those involved.
