“She Left the Cell in a Coffin”: Kenyans Demands Justice for Julie Njoki After Police Custody Horror.

A nation is once again plunged into mourning and fury following the tragic death of Julie Njoki, a young Kenyan woman who died under suspicious circumstances after spending a night in police custody.  

Her story has become a new symbol of what many are calling a growing culture of brutality within Kenyan law enforcement. 

Julie was arrested on Monday, July 7, during the Saba Saba demonstrations, a wave of protests organized primarily by the youth demanding political and economic reforms.  

She was taken to Nanyuki Police Station, where her family alleges she was savagely beaten by officers, leaving her unconscious. 

According to Julie’s aunt, who posted an emotional and disturbing account on social media, the arrest turned into a nightmare within hours.  

“Julie was arrested in Nanyuki, a town I once thought was peaceful. The next day, she was taken to court. That same night, in custody, she was brutally beaten. The same people who are meant to protect her left her unconscious,” she wrote. 

Julie was later taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, a finding consistent with violent assault. The family believes that not only was she attacked, but that police deliberately delayed her treatment and attempted to hide the severity of her condition. 

“This critical condition was met with delays, carelessness, and silence. By the time real help came, it was too late. We lost Julie. She didn’t deserve to die. No one does,” her aunt added, capturing the overwhelming grief and helplessness felt by many Kenyans. 

Her death has ignited outrage across social media, with thousands sharing her story using hashtags like #JusticeForJulie and #StopPoliceBrutality. The timing couldn’t be more painful, Julie’s death comes just days after Albert Ojwang, a blogger and teacher, also died while in police custody at Nairobi Central Police Station.  

These back-to-back tragedies have heightened public anger and raised urgent questions about safety, accountability, and justice in Kenya’s criminal justice system. 

“I’m broken. I’m angry. I’m grieving. How do you jail a Gen Z on Monday and report them dead by Wednesday? How are we supposed to trust a system that kills the very people it’s meant to protect?” Julie’s aunt exclaimed, a sentiment echoed by a growing number of Kenyans who feel betrayed by those sworn to protect them. 

Despite mounting pressure, police authorities have yet to issue a statement addressing the allegations or outlining steps to investigate the incident. The silence is deafening, and deeply unsettling for a country that has seen a pattern of similar deaths, cover-ups, and impunity. 

Julie Njoki was more than a statistic. She was a daughter, a niece, a citizen, and a protester exercising her constitutional rights. Now, she’s a name that’s joined a heartbreaking list of young Kenyans whose lives were cut short in police custody. 

As Kenya mourns, the demand is growing louder and more urgent: Justice must not be delayed, and it must not be denied. Julie’s death cannot be just another hashtag. She left the cell in a coffin. But her story might finally be the one that pushes the nation to say, “Enough.”