Police are investigating death of a chang'aa vendor who died inside cells at Huruma police station in Nairobi on November 5, 2024. 

A police report sent to the Kenya police service headquarters indicated that Tom Odiado became sickly while in cells and was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Odiado had been sentenced to serve three(3) months jail term for being in possession of the native brew died in cells at Nairobi's Huruma Police Station on Tuesday morning.

Odiado had been sentenced by Senior Principal Magistrate Hellen Okwani on Monday this week after pleading guilty to charges of possession of the brew. 

He had been given an option of paying a fine of Sh20,000 but didn't pay. 

He admitted possession of alcoholic drinks that do not conform to the Alcoholic drinks Control Act. 

Odiado had been arrested with eight(8) litres of chang'aa in Starehe area of Mathare sub-County in Nairobi on November 2, 2024.

The brew recovered from Odiado was packed in eight(8) clear polythene bags each.

The law requires that the drink be packed in 250 milliliters glass bottle and Odiado had therefore contravened the Alcoholic drinks Control Act no. 4 of 2010 as read with section 27 (1) (b) of the Act. 

However, a report from the police station indicates that the prisoner was escorted to prison but Kenya Prisons service declined to receive the convict because of his condition.

This prompted police to return him to the cells.

Odiado was reportedly unwell. 

"On November 5, 2024, at 9.02am, it was reported by Corporal Lena Kemunto that one prisoner, Tom Odiado, was booked vide (Occurrence Book) OB 87/4/2024 who appeared sickly, who required medical attention," the report reads in part. 

The OB entry says officers on duty escorted the Odiado to (undisclosed) hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.It however says the matter is under investigations.