Eyewitness Details Alleged Police Assault

A security guard, Newton Kinyua, provided a chilling account in the Milimani High Court on Monday, November 24, 2025, during the ongoing trial of six police officers accused of murdering brothers Benson Njiru, 22, and Emmanuel Mutura, 19. Kinyua testified that he witnessed the officers brutally beat the two young men on the night of August 1, 2021, in Kianjokoma, Embu County. He told Justice Margaret Muigai that he saw an officer repeatedly strike Benson Njiru with a long stick until he lost consciousness, while another officer assaulted Emmanuel Mutura with kicks and punches. Kinyua stated that the officers then loaded the unconscious Benson into their Land Rover, while the injured but still conscious Emmanuel was also forced into the vehicle before it sped away.

A Nation Demands Justice

The deaths of the Kianjokoma brothers ignited widespread outrage across Kenya, sparking days of protests in Embu County and amplifying national calls for an end to police brutality and for justice to be served. The case has become a significant test for the Kenyan justice system and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is tasked with holding the police accountable. The incident occurred while officers were enforcing a nationwide curfew imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The State's Case

The prosecution's case, which began on February 9, 2022, hinges on evidence suggesting the brothers were killed while in police custody. An autopsy conducted on August 5, 2021, revealed that both Benson and Emmanuel died from multiple severe injuries to their heads and ribs, caused by blunt force trauma. This finding, presented in court by a government pathologist in September 2025, directly contradicted the initial police report which claimed the brothers had jumped from a moving police vehicle. Another witness, a friend of the brothers, testified in February 2022 that he saw Benson being beaten and thrown into the police vehicle after his brother Emmanuel had tripped and fallen while they were running from the officers.

The Accused Officers and Trial Proceedings

Following an investigation by IPOA, six officers were arrested on August 16, 2021, and subsequently charged with two counts of murder each. The accused are Benson Mbuthia, Consolota Kariuki, Nicholas Cheruiyot, Martin Wanyama, Lilian Cherono, and James Mwaniki. They all pleaded not guilty in September 2021. The trial has faced several delays, including the death of the initial trial judge and the recent hospitalization of one of the accused officers, James Mwaniki, in June 2025. The officers were released on a cash bail of KSh 300,000 each in November 2021. The case continues to be closely watched by the Kenyan public and human rights organizations as a bellwether for police accountability in the nation.