A 35-year-old fisherman who died while in custody at Kipasi Police Post in Suba North Constituency, Homa Bay County, has sparked renewed questions about the safety of individuals held in police detention.

The man, identified as Calvin Omondi Onditi, had been arrested on Saturday after locals accused him of engaging in an unnatural act involving a goat.

Officers from Kipasi Police responded to the incident and took him into custody. By the following morning, Omondi was reported dead.

According to police, Omondi allegedly used his trousers to hang himself inside the cell. However, his family has dismissed this explanation, citing suspicious injuries on his neck and calling for a thorough investigation into his death.

Relatives said they were shocked to learn of his passing so soon after he had been relocated to Mbita. “We were told our brother had passed away, and we couldn’t believe it. When we arrived, we found him hanging. It was deeply disturbing,” said a family member.

The family also faulted the police for moving Omondi’s body before they were notified or given a chance to view the scene.

Vincent Oduor, the CEO of Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital, confirmed that initial medical observations pointed to possible strangulation.

He noted that the body bore a noose made from trousers and showed signs such as a bitten tongue.

This case follows closely on the heels of public outrage over the controversial death of teacher and social media influencer Albert Ojwang, allegedly at the hands of police, further fueling calls for accountability and reforms within law enforcement.