NAIROBI, Kenya – The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has approved murder charges against six individuals, among them three police officers, in connection with the death of 31-year-old teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in police custody earlier this month.
In a statement, the ODPP said it had received an inquiry file from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on June 22, following a directive from DPP Renson Ingonga to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
After reviewing the file, a team of senior prosecutors recommended murder charges be filed against the suspects, who include police officers Samson Kiprotich Talaam, James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani, as well as John Ngige Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue.
The six will appear before the High Court in Kibera on Monday, June 23 at 2:00pm to face murder charges under Section 204 of the Penal Code.
Ojwang’s death on June 7 at the Central Police Station in Nairobi sparked widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny over police conduct in custody cases.
Human rights organisations, legal groups, and members of the public have been calling for accountability, accusing authorities of trying to cover up the incident.
The ODPP reaffirmed its commitment to justice, stating:
“The Office remains committed to executing its constitutional mandate in accordance with the rule of law, public interest, and the administration of justice.”
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DEATH OF ALBERT OMONDI OJWANG#HakiNaUsawa
Ojwang, a teacher and university graduate, had been detained under unclear circumstances.
Details surrounding the events leading to his death remain murky, but reports suggest he may have been assaulted while in custody.
IPOA had earlier confirmed that it had opened investigations immediately after his death and interviewed witnesses, reviewed CCTV footage, and obtained forensic reports.
The arraignment is expected to mark a critical moment in Kenya’s efforts to hold security personnel accountable for alleged abuses, as pressure mounts on the government to tackle extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths.
