Nairobi Father Arrested After 13-Year-Old Son Dies Following Assault

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 3 — Police have arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with the death of his 13-year-old son following an alleged assault in Sinai slums, Nairobi.

The suspect was arrested after his son, Owen Wanjala, a Grade 9 student at Star of Hope Junior Secondary School, died at Olive Link Hospital in Lungalunga.

According to a police report, the incident was reported by Sinai Slums Chairlady Beatrice Mwangi, who alerted authorities after the boy’s body was found at the hospital.

Police officers from Lungalunga Police Station, alongside detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Makadara, visited the scene and established that the boy had allegedly been assaulted by his father on October 31, 2026.

The suspect is said to have struck the teenager on the head using a metallic pipe at around 4pm.

The boy reportedly complained of a headache following the incident but was not taken to hospital.

His condition allegedly deteriorated on November 2, prompting his family to rush him to Olive Link Hospital at approximately 11am. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Police processed the scene before moving the body to City Mortuary, where it is awaiting a postmortem examination to establish the cause of death.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and escorted to Industrial Area Police Station as detectives from DCI Makadara took over investigations.

The arrest was reportedly accompanied by protests during which two police officers sustained injuries after being struck by stones.

Police identified the injured officers as Corporal Lucy Kinyua, who sustained injuries to her left elbow, and Police Constable Kennedy Mundara Maina, who suffered a bleeding wound to the head above his right eye.

The officers were rushed to Mareba Health Centre, where they received treatment and were discharged in fair condition.

Detectives are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death, with the suspect expected to face further police action.