KANJA SUSPENDS COPS ON DUTY AT CENTRAL POLICE STATION OVER OJWANG’S DEATH

The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered the suspension of five police officers at the Central Police Station following the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody. In a press statement released on Monday, June 9, the NPS confirmed the suspension of the Officer Commanding Station(OCS), the Duty Officer on the night in question, the Cell Sentry, and all officers who were on duty at the Report Office that night. This followed public pressure for accountability on the tragic death of Albert Ojwang and to ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

Ojwang was a teacher and a father of two months old baby. He was the only son of Meshack Ojwang Opiyo. Ojwang was arrested on Saturday in Homa Bay over what authorities say was a disparaging post on X. He was brought to Nairobi by the DCI detectives handling the case and booked at the Central Police Station cells pending investigations. When his family arrived at the police station on Sunday to follow up the case, they found he was dead. They said the police told them Albert’s body had been taken to the City Mortuary.

Police said he died by suicide after allegedly injuring himself while alone in a cell. He was found with serious head injuries believed to be self-inflicted and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead on Sunday morning. Albert Omondi Ojwang’s tragic death while in police custody has sparked public outcry and renewed scrutiny of police accountability in Kenya. This is after human rights groups dismissed claims he died by suicide.

The Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has called for speed investigations into his death saying culprits should be brought to book. She added that just like Kenyans abide by the rule of law, police should follow the law for equality.