Outrage as police officers kill two men over maize theft in Kahawa West

Shock and outrage are mounting over the killings of James Muraga Maina and Daniel Nudhu Njoki, allegedly over theft at a maize farm in Kahawa West.

Investigators have named a senior Administration Police officer, a sergeant and the farm owner as prime suspects.

Postmortem examinations indicate the victims were struck with a blunt object and forced to swallow raw maize and chilli peppers, pointing to a deliberate attack.

Grieving families of 29-year-old James Muraga Maina and 45-year-old Daniel Nudhu Njoki gathered with their lawyers, IPOA officials and activists, demanding answers over the deaths of their loved ones on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

The two men are alleged to have trespassed onto a maize farm in Kahawa West before being confronted by the farm owner.

“It is alleged that after realising James was in critical condition, the officer took him to the police station, where he was advised to rush him to hospital. However, upon arrival at Kenyatta Hospital, James was pronounced dead on arrival,” said Nyumba Kumi elder Bernard Wanguru.

“The autopsy report has now confirmed that the deceased were struck on the head with a blunt object and sustained multiple soft tissue injuries due to blunt force trauma consistent with assault. It further concludes that the two were forced to swallow uncooked maize and red and green pepper, approximately 1,000 millilitres,” a family member Agnes Nthenya Mutisya said.

Vocal Africa CEO and activist Hussein Khalid, added, “They had undigested food that included whole maize and whole pilipilis, indicating they were most probably forced to swallow them. The fact that it had not been digested means they died soon after. The families are calling for justice.”

James and Daniel are not the only individuals alleged to have suffered at the hands of the same officer. Francis Nzau, a construction worker, claims he was also assaulted by the officer.

“Nilikua nimepitia na area ya huku chini inaitwa Kiwanja nikapatana na maafisa wawili wakaanza kusema kuna wheelbarrow ilikuwa imeibiwa na drum. Walinipiga mpaka nikasema kitu sijui tu ndio waachane na mimi,” Nzau stated.

“The right to life is enshrined in the Constitution, and it does not end at the hands of police officers,” family lawyer Andrew Ndichu noted.

Detectives from the DCI Kasarani unit have taken statements from four witnesses. Meanwhile, the officer at the centre of the investigation has recorded his own statement, insisting he was acting as a Good Samaritan who sought to assist the two men.

Fresh questions have now been raised over accountability within the police service and the protection of civilians by officers sworn to safeguard them.