The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an investigation into the death of Jack Leon Matoke, a 23-year-old boda boda rider who died hours after his arrest at Kawangware police post in Nairobi. The family disputes police claims of suicide, and IPOA is conducting an impartial probe.
Jack Leon Matoke was arrested and brought to Kawangware police station around 7 pm on Thursday, December 11, 2025. According to police accounts, he died by self-harm, first claiming he used his T-shirt, then changing the story to say he used a shoelace. However, the family disputes this, stating that his body was still wearing the same clothes from the time of arrest, and no item was produced as the one used in the act.
Activist Hussein Khalid, present during the post-mortem, revealed that police have altered their narrative. A family member stated: “When we arrived at the City Mortuary and saw Jack’s body, we found marks on his neck. The marks looked like they were drawn, similar to tattoos. Secondly, all the clothes that a motorcycle rider normally wears were still on his body. I asked myself, Where is the item he used to hang himself? I did not see it.”
IPOA has followed procedures under Section 7 of the IPOA Act, documenting the scene, contacting the family, and attending the post-mortem at the City Mortuary on Monday, December 15, 2025. The investigation is impartial and free from external influence, with IPOA set to submit recommendations to state agencies if any liability is found. Medical findings from the autopsy are expected this week.
