NAIROBI, Kenya – The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has ruled out suicide as the cause of death for Albert Ojwang’, the 31-year-old teacher and activist who died in police custody on Sunday, June 8.
IPOA also revealed that key CCTV systems at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where Ojwang was held, appear to have been tampered with.
Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, IPOA’s Director of Investigations Anne Wanjiku told lawmakers that their preliminary findings raised serious concerns about possible interference with evidence.
“The autopsy report and our preliminary investigation rule out the theory of suicide,” Wanjiku said. “Further, we established that CCTV systems located at the Officer Commanding Station’s office had been interfered with.”
Wanjiku said IPOA only learned of Ojwang’s death through a media report and a police signal from the Inspector General, prompting the authority to launch an immediate investigation.
So far, IPOA has completed several steps in its inquiry: forensic scene analysis, blood spatter examination, seizure of police documents, and collection of biological samples for forensic analysis.
The agency also retrieved and forwarded the station’s CCTV digital video recorder (DVR) for review and recorded statements from the five Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers involved in Ojwang’s arrest.
Wanjiku said the authority is now working to conclude the remaining investigative steps, including collecting additional witness statements—starting Wednesday morning at IPOA headquarters—and retrieving medical records from Mbagathi Hospital, where Ojwang was pronounced dead.
Reconstructing the Final Days
The Senate was also presented with a timeline of events pieced together by IPOA investigators:
- June 4: Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat files a complaint with DCI. An individual, Kelvin Muinde, is identified.
- June 5: Muinde is arrested and detained at Kamukunji Police Station.
- June 7: Ojwang is arrested at his home in Homa Bay, held briefly at Mawego Police Station, and later transferred overnight to Central Police Station in Nairobi.
- June 8: Ojwang is found unconscious in custody and declared dead at Mbagathi Hospital.
IPOA has also recorded a statement from a fellow detainee who was held at Central Police Station during the same period as Ojwang.
Wanjiku confirmed that the agency has reached out to Ojwang’s family and identified potential witnesses.
“Our mandate is to oversight police conduct in matters of crime. The investigation into Ojwang’s death is being handled with utmost seriousness,” Wanjiku assured senators.
Mounting Pressure on Police Command
The latest revelations come amid growing public outrage and political pressure.
Senators have called for Deputy IG Lagat to step aside pending investigations, while some, including Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, have demanded his immediate arrest.
On Wednesday, the Senate suspended its regular sitting to allow an informal interrogation of top security officials—including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Inspector General Douglas Kanja, and DCI Director Mohamed Amin—regarding Ojwang’s death and the apparent cover-up.
The Senate is expected to issue a formal resolution on the matter based on a report being compiled by the Clerk following the closed-door session.
