Five police officers from Mombasa will on Wednesday be charged with murder, following the death of a detainee at the Changamwe police station.

According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) the said officers assaulted the detainee Caleb Ospino Otieno before they took him to hospital.

Initially the deceased was booked in at the station as 'Unknown' after he was arrested on September 18, 2018 on suspicion of being in possesion of illegal alcohol 'Changaa'.

In a statement, IPOA’s Chairperson Anne Makori said the deceased  death was occasioned by multiple injuries inflicted by a blunt force.

"At around 21oo Hrs sa,e day, he was removed from the cells and later transferred to the Coast General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The investigation among other findings established that Mr. Otieno’s death was occasioned by multiple injuries inflicted by a blunt force,” she stated.

Adding " Four of the five officers have since been placed in state custody in preparation for arraignment at the High Court in Nairobi,”.

The five officers include, Khalif Abdulahi, James Muli, Joseph Adhiambo, Edward Kongo and Nelson Nkanae.

Makori further pointed out that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji,  independently reviewed IPOA’s investigation file and acceded to the recommendations.

This comes at a time when there have been a rise in cases of police killings.

Just last week, six police officers were charged with murder over the deaths in custody of two brothers arrested for allegedly breaking  COVID-19 curfew in Embu.