A group of police officers who were on duty at Nairobi’s Central Police Station when teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang was found dead have been formally summoned for interrogation.
The officers were summoned by detectives from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is investigating the death as a possible murder. This follows an autopsy that revealed Ojwang was strangled and suffered multiple injuries consistent with assault.
The five officers are expected to appear before IPOA detectives on Wednesday, June 11, for questioning and to record statements. Sources familiar with the case indicated that arrests could be made at any time.
IPOA investigators have already revisited the scene where Ojwang’s body was found on Sunday morning—just hours after he had been booked into custody.
The team is also reviewing surveillance footage from eight CCTV cameras at the station. Four of the cameras are positioned at the entrance—two facing inwards and two outwards—while the remaining four cover the reporting area and the corridor near the holding cells.
The footage is seen as crucial in piecing together what happened between the time Ojwang was booked and the moment he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators have recovered several items from the holding cell believed to be linked to the case. These include blood-stained white Crocs, a black top with visible blood marks, a wet maroon sweater, a water bottle, a transparent plastic cup, a jug, and a tumbler.
On Tuesday, Ojwang’s family moved his body from City Mortuary to Chiromo Funeral Parlour in preparation for his burial in Homa Bay County.
At the same time, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga ordered IPOA to fast-track its investigation and submit a report within seven days. He cited growing public concern and the need for accountability.
“In light of the foregoing and pursuant to Article 157(4) of the Constitution and Section 5(2) of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, the DPP has directed IPOA to expedite the said investigations,” read the DPP’s statement.
Ingonga assured the public that the Office of the DPP remains committed to upholding justice, the rule of law, and public interest.
Ojwang, a teacher based in Voi, died while in police custody after being arrested over an alleged false publication targeting Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
Initial reports by police claimed that Ojwang fatally injured himself by repeatedly banging his head against a wall. However, a postmortem conducted on Tuesday by government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia dismissed those claims.
“He had head and neck injuries. There were other multiple injuries consistent with assault,” Dr Midia said, noting that the injury patterns did not match those typically caused by self-inflicted harm.
“When we examined the pattern of trauma on the head… the bleeding was on the scalp, face, sides and back of the head, which contradicts the claim that he hit himself on a wall,” he added.
The autopsy, which was conducted in the presence of the family’s pathologist Dr Mutuma Zambezi, further revealed injuries on Ojwang’s limbs and trunk, reinforcing the conclusion that he was physically assaulted.
Amid growing pressure from the public and human rights groups, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome suspended all officers who were on duty at the time, including the station commander, duty officer, and cell sentry.
“This is standard protocol to ensure impartial investigations. IPOA is leading the process. If anyone is found culpable, they will face the law,” said Koome in a statement.
