IPOA Probes Death of Man in Mombasa Police Cell After ‘Fall From Height’

Nairobi, Kenya — September 25, 2025

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has opened a formal investigation into the death of Simon Warui, who was found dead inside a cell at Mombasa Central Police Station after what authorities describe as a suspected fall from height. 

The Latest

• IPOA confirmed that its investigators are collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing police procedures related to Warui’s custody. 

• The post-mortem report, accessed by the Authority, states the cause of death was cardiorespiratory collapseassociated with a fracture-dislocation of the neck, findings consistent with a fall from a height. 

• IPOA Chair Ahmed Issack Hassan emphasized that the safety and rights of detainees are paramount and pledged to ensure accountability. 

• The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has appointed an advocate to represent Warui’s family and monitor the investigative process. 

• Warui’s family claims he was last seen in Nairobi and had been reported missing before being discovered dead in Mombasa. The route that brought him into Mombasa custody remains unclear. 

Context & Historical Pattern

• Deaths in police custody remain a sensitive and recurring issue in Kenya’s public discourse, especially amid cases such as Albert Ojwang, a blogger who died while detained in Nairobi earlier in 2025. 

• IPOA was established under the Independent Policing Oversight Authority Act, exercising oversight over the National Police Service and investigating misconduct in line with Article 244 of the Constitution. 

• Several human rights groups and legal bodies have expressed concern over the lack of transparency and recurrence of fatal incidents in detention facilities.

Risks, Questions & Implications

Risks & Challenges

If police procedures are found wanting (e.g., poor monitoring, weak cell security, failure to check detainees), it could prompt disciplinary or criminal charges.

• The case may stoke public distrust in policing and revive calls for deeper reforms in custody practices.

Key Questions

• How did Warui, reportedly from Nairobi, come to be held in Mombasa?

• Was the fall accidental, self-harm, or the result of foul play?

• Are there CCTV recordings, cell logs, or staff records that can clarify movements within the cell?

• Will the officers on duty be suspended or face charges pending the probe?

Implications

• A thorough and transparent investigation could strengthen public confidence in oversight mechanisms and deter future misconduct.

• Conversely, lack of accountability or perceived cover-up could fuel protest, litigation, and calls for restructuring of police oversight.