Tension in Mwea as pregnant woman dies after being thrown from moving police vehicle

• The incident triggered protests along the Piai-South Ngariama road, with angry residents blocking the road and confronting police officers who arrived at the scene to collect the woman's body.

Residents gather at the scene on the incident in Mugamba Ciura village, Murinduko Ward, Mwea.

Tension ran high in Mugamba Ciura village, Murinduko Ward, Mwea, after a pregnant woman died and her husband sustained serious injuries after they were allegedly thrown from a moving police vehicle.

The incident triggered protests along the Piai-South Ngariama road, with angry residents blocking the road and confronting police officers who arrived at the scene to collect the woman's body.

According to Pastor Ephantus Mwangi of Mugamba Ciura village, the couple was travelling in a police vehicle from Itangi Police Station when officers allegedly refused to let them alight after reaching their destination.

Mwangi said the husband attempted to get out of the vehicle but was allegedly thrown out by one of the officers, sustaining serious injuries.

A short distance later, the man's pregnant wife was allegedly thrown from the moving vehicle and died on the spot.

“We as the residents of Mugamba Ciura want action taken against the two officers, the driver and the officer who was at the back,” Mwangi said.

The incident angered residents, who blocked the road and chased away a police vehicle that had arrived to collect the body.

“We won't allow any vehicle to pass here. We are very angry that the officers have killed two people, a woman and her unborn child. Action must be taken,” Mwangi said.

The deceased, identified as Catherine Mwende Njeru, was travelling with her husband, Anthony Muturi, who said they were headed to their farm in Rupingazi to irrigate crops and pick miraa.

Muturi said the couple was waiting for a motorcycle at around 2am when a police Land Cruiser stopped and offered them a lift.

He said they accepted the offer but the officers allegedly refused to let them out when they reached their destination and instead demanded Ksh.1,000.

“When I told my wife I must come out of the vehicle whether the police officer liked it or not, I was shocked after seeing my dead wife. I thought they threw her out after thinking I was dead,” Muturi said.

“We were waiting for a motorcycle to take us to the farm when they came and asked us whether we wanted a lift. They refused to stop as they wanted Ksh.1,000. I don't know why they have killed my wife,” he added.

Residents also accused the officers of regularly stopping along the road to pick up passengers and demand money for the lifts.

Alfred Muthomi claimed the same vehicle had previously carried him and other residents before demanding Ksh.500.

“The other day it carried us and asked for Ksh.500 as we were going home,” Muthomi said.

Boda boda rider Lawrence Mugo said he was shocked after arriving at the scene and finding the woman dead and her husband seriously injured.

Former Kirinyaga Deputy Governor Peter Ndambiri told residents that they would not relent until the officers involved were arrested.

“We will storm the police station if the two officers who are fond of collecting money are not arrested,” Ndambiri said.

The situation was eventually brought under control after DCI Veronica Kapoko and Wang'uru Base Commander Jamilah Murugu engaged the residents and assured them that stern action would be taken against the officers.

The residents subsequently allowed officers from the scene-of-crime unit to access the area and process the scene.

Detectives from Wang'uru Police Station examined the body and noted injuries on the forehead and right hip. The body was later moved to Embu Hospital Mortuary, while Muturi was taken to hospital for treatment.

Mwea East Sub-County Police Commander Henry Gitonga and the Mwea East Sub-County DCI also engaged the residents, who had blocked the road, before the road was reopened.

The two police officers involved in the incident are being sought as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries continue.