The Law Society of Kenya has assigned an advocate to oversee investigations into the death of Simon Warui, who allegedly died in police custody at Mombasa Central Police Station.
In a statement on his X on Monday, LSK boss Faith Odhiambo, said they are closely monitoring the case.
"The Law Society of Kenya is closely following up on the case of Mr. Simon Warui, who died while in police custody at Central Police Station, Mombasa. We have appointed an Advocate to act on behalf of the family in monitoring the investigations and ensuring that the full truth and circumstances leading to Mr. Warui’s death are uncovered, and the persons involved are held to account," said Odhiambo.
The advocate, appointed by the LSK, will monitor all investigative steps, press for accountability, and ensure that no aspect of the case is overlooked or swept under the rug.
Odhiambo added that although the circumstances under which Warui wound up dead in a police station in Mombasa remain unclear, the society is working closely with its Civil Society partners and the KNCHR to ensure this matter is investigated swiftly and conclusively.
Warui's family says he disappeared early on the morning of Sunday, 14, 2025, around 10:00 am, an event which was swiftly reported at Embakasi Police Station. However, despite reports filed in Nairobi, he was later discovered in custody far from home.
According to media reports, the autopsy revealed severe injuries, including fractures to the neck and a broken hand, ligature marks, severe spinal damage, and features suggesting a lack of oxygen.
These physical injuries, family members and human rights observers say, are inconsistent with accidental injury or self-inflicted harm.
Additionally, the family alleges they were denied access and transparent information. They report that upon learning Warui was in Mombasa, they made efforts to see him at the police station but were rebuffed. In one visit, they say police told them Warui was found in a washroom with bleeding from the nose.
The explanation offered by officers, apparently that he had fallen from a wall, has also been questioned for its plausibility.
Speaking to the media at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital on Saturday, Warui’s cousin, Godfrey Gichuru, said the family is seeking justice and closure.
Gichuru had travelled to Mombasa on Thursday, September 18, after receiving reports of his cousin’s death.
“We were informed about the death of our cousin in Nairobi, which shocked us. He had been missing since Sunday. We later discovered he was in Mombasa, but when his brother and friend went to the Central Police Station to see him, they were denied access. On Thursday morning, we were told he had died,” Gichuru recounted.
The family said Warui had earlier used a Catholic Church guard’s phone to contact his wife, leading them to trace him to Mombasa.
His friend, Daniel Gicheha, said efforts to find him after he disappeared were unsuccessful.
“We searched everywhere and made calls. A church guard eventually found him and took him to Central Police Station. When we went there at night, we were told to return in the morning. Later, we were referred to the DCI and then back to Central, only to learn he had died. We want justice because we left Nairobi knowing he was alive,” Gicheha said.
