Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has declared that any officer implicated in the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang while in custody must step aside, including high-ranking officials such as Deputy Inspector General Eluid Lagat, if found culpable.
Appearing before a parliamentary committee on Thursday alongside the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, Kanja emphasized that no police officer would be shielded from accountability. “Any person whose name will be mentioned as having played any role in the death of Albert Ojwang must record their statement. If the DIG is going to be mentioned, then on that basis, he will have to step aside to allow the completion of the investigation,” Kanja told MPs.
Kanja admitted that the initial police report, which claimed Ojwang had banged his head on the wall while in custody, has since been proven false. “The primary report we received on Sunday indicated that the suspect had hit his head on the walls. And based on that, the first statement issued was drawn from that information. But why would an officer coil such a narrative? That’s why the DCI has mentioned the OCS Talam as the main suspect,” he explained.
DCI Mohamed Amin backed this position, stating that the Central Police Station OCS, identified as Talam, was now under scrutiny. “I have not said that he is an accused person. But whatever utterances OCS Talam is making should be treated with a pinch of salt,” Amin said.
A damning report dated June 8 from a medical officer at Mbagathi Hospital offered grim details of the condition in which Ojwang was received. The officer noted that Ojwang was unresponsive, cold, with a swollen face and multiple bruises, and was pronounced dead on arrival. A notification of death form was filled, and the police were directed to report the case to the City Mortuary and Kenyatta Police Station.
Amin confirmed that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is leading the investigation, following a directive from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. “Under normal circumstances, we may not conduct parallel investigations. There was also a court ruling giving IPOA an inclusive mandate to investigate matters relating to police conduct,” Amin explained.
Both Kanja and Amin said they plan to personally visit Ojwang’s family to offer their condolences. “The investigation is being conducted by IPOA, who will tell us why this murder was committed or what the motive was for doing this. All of us are looking up to getting those answers,” the IG said.
Ojwang’s death in custody has sparked national outrage, with pressure mounting on the police service and the Interior Ministry to ensure full accountability.
