By Lauryne Akoth
Walter Nyamato Nyankieya, a police officer who passed away in the United States while en route to Haiti was laid to rest in his home in Nyatieko village, Nyamira county on the 15th March 2024.
According to the authorities, Nyamato passed away mysteriously in Washington DC while on a reconnaissance mission ahead of the planned deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti. However, the authorities are yet to state the exact cause of his death prompting his family to seek legal redress.
The 39-year-old was working under the Deputy Inspector General Administration Police Service, Noor Gabow. Nyamato was found dead in a hotel room in Washington DC a day after his arrival with his colleagues who were also on the reconnaissance mission.
The father of the deceased, Philip Nyamato claims that the Kenyan authorities handed over his body without providing any autopsy report.
Addressing the media, Nyamato’s father stated, “The authorities advised us that viewing his body was not possible initially. We waited patiently until Friday when they summoned us to Lee Funeral Home to identify the body and verify his identity.”
The family is currently seeking answers from the government about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. “We requested a provisional report detailing the findings of the postmortem examination, but they failed to provide it. Additionally, they did not provide us a death certificate from America.” Said his father.
The family maintains that despite his burial, they would not rest until they knew the cause of Nyamato’s death.
The burial was attended by representatives from the National police service including David Kabiru, a representative to the Director General of the National Intelligence Service, and Godfrey Otunge, Director of Operations, Administration of Police.
Otunge eulogized Nyamato as an officer who had respect for authority, and who was firm and forward with his dealings with colleagues and juniors. He was also eulogized as a smart and diligent cop who took his job seriously.
The grieving family is now urging the government to provide them with Nyankieya’s autopsy report and death certificate, as they strive for closure following his death shrouded in mystery.