Johnson Muthama during a past event/HANDOUTThe founding UDA chairperson Johnson Muthama, has added his voice to the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody, terming the incident both "tragic and unacceptable."
Muthama said what happened to him is not only a violation of human rights but also a blow to the country’s global reputation.
In a statement, Muthama said the incident is a betrayal of what the Kwanza administration promised in bringing an end to extrajudicial killings.
“During our campaign, we assured Kenyans that President William Ruto's administration would put an end to extrajudicial killings,” he said.
According to Muthama, who is a commissioner at the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), a few rogue individuals must not be allowed to operate with impunity.
“Those responsible for the death of Albert Ojwang must be held fully accountable under the law,” he said as he offered his deepest condolences to the family.
Ojwang died on June 7, 2025, at Nairobi Central Police Station, reportedly just an hour after being booked.
An autopsy conducted on Tuesday at the City Mortuary revealed that he died from neck compression and sustained multiple injuries across his body.
This contradicts the earlier police statement, which claimed that he fatally hit his head on a cell wall.
“This is unlikely to be a self-inflicted injury,” said government pathologist Bernard Midia, who conducted the postmortem alongside a family-appointed pathologist.
Experts note that neck compression can lead to death through asphyxia or blocked blood flow to the brain, adding further weight to concerns over how Ojwang died.
Muthama now joins growing calls for an independent investigation and swift legal action.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has also condemned the incident, warning that such deaths not only cause personal grief but also damage public trust in state institutions.
“They seriously erode the authority and credibility of the police and the state, and that is a significant step towards chaos and collapse,” he stated.
According to Raila, the arrest and transfer raised serious questions.
“So far, nobody knows who gave the orders for Mr. Ojwang to be arrested and ferried to Nairobi, and yet that person should be answering to Kenyans,” he said.
Raila said the incident adds to “the horrifying long list of young and defenseless Kenyans whose lives have been taken too soon, in brutal and senseless circumstances, at the hands of the police.”
