A government pathologist has told the High Court that the Kianjokoma brothers, Benson Njiru Ndwiga and Emmanuel Mutura Ndwiga, died from severe head injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
Testifying before a High Court, the Embu County pathologist painted a grim picture of the injuries, noting that both young men had multiple skull fractures, broken jaws, and deep brain lacerations.
"Their bodies bore visible bruises on their faces and arms, with their heads badly deformed," the court heard.
The findings also revealed the multiple skull fractures, broken jaws, and deep brain lacerations to be consistent with a violent assault, ruling out the possibility of the injuries being accidental.
“The injuries were not accidental; they point to deliberate and brutal force,” read court filings.
The chilling testimony supports the prosecution’s case against six police officers, Benson Mputhia, Consolata Kariuki, Nicholas Cheruiyot, Martin Wanyama, Lilian Chemuna, and James Mwaniki who are charged with the murder of the two brothers.
“This evidence goes to the heart of our argument that the deaths were unlawful and caused by excessive violence,” the prosecution submitted.
So far, seven witnesses have testified, including the pathologist, with more expected as the prosecution continues to present its evidence for trial.
The prosecution maintains that the officers used force far beyond what the law allows, turning what should have been a routine arrest into a deadly encounter.
The High Court will continue to hear testimony in the coming weeks before the accused are required to mount their defense. The case remains one of the most closely watched trials in recent years, with families of the brothers and rights groups demanding justice.
The two brothers died on August 1, 2021, after being arrested at Kianjokoma Trading Centre in Embu County. Their deaths sparked public outrage and renewed calls for accountability in the police service.