“She Entered Alive, Left in a Coffin”: Police Break Silence on Julie Njoki’s Death as Protests Rock Nanyuki

The tragic death of 24-year-old Julie Njoki while in government custody has ignited outrage across Kenya, prompting the National Police Service (NPS) to issue a clarification following widespread allegations of police brutality. 

In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, July 14, 2025, the NPS addressed a front-page story published by The Standard newspaper that implied Njoki was assaulted and killed by police officers while in custody.  

The NPS dismissed the insinuations, stating unequivocally that no formal complaint had been recorded regarding any misconduct related to Njoki’s death. 

“The attention of the National Police Service (NPS) has been drawn to a report published in The Standard Newspaper on 14th July 2025 (Page 4), alleging police misconduct,” read part of the statement. 

Julie Njoki was among 126 individuals arrested in Nanyuki on Saba Saba Day, July 7, during countrywide demonstrations. Police say she was charged the following day at the Nanyuki Law Courts with malicious damage to property under Section 339(1) of the Penal Code. All suspects pleaded guilty and were offered bail of KSh50,000 or faced remand at Nanyuki Prison. Unfortunately, Njoki’s family could not raise the bail, and she was remanded. 

Days later, Julie was reported dead. 

While the NPS did not provide a cause of death, they stressed that “no investigation has been launched against the police”, and they remain uninformed of any formal allegations of brutality or misconduct. 

However, they promised that “relevant agencies will conduct swift, transparent, and credible investigations into the matter.” 

The clarification came after The Standard published a caption under Julie’s image in its Monday edition, stating: 

“After a day-long standoff between two state security agencies, the Police and the Prisons Service, over where 24-year-old Julie Kariuki lost her life, the Prisons Service has admitted she died in their custody, though they claim she arrived already injured.” 

The shocking admission by the Prisons Service that Njoki passed away while in their custody, although allegedly already injured, has further fueled public anger. Protesters in Nanyuki, led by the deceased’s grandmother, took to the streets demanding justice and accountability, insisting Julie was tortured to death. 

The case has now become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about human rights, police conduct, and custodial safety in Kenya. Julie’s death raises critical questions: If she arrived at the prison injured, who harmed her? And if she died in custody, who should be held responsible? 

As investigations continue, the public awaits clarity and truth in a case that has already torn open old wounds and cast a long shadow over the justice system.