Ojwang's death: IPOA formally summons 5 interdicted cops for grilling

A group of police officers who were on duty at the Central Police Station when teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang was found dead have been formally summoned.

They were summoned by detectives based at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for formal grilling and statement taking.

The team is investigating murder after an autopsy on the body suggested Ojwang was strangled and assaulted.

The five officers are expected to appear before the detectives for grilling on Wednesday, June 11. Other sources said arrests were expected to be made anytime.

The team revisited the scene where the body of Ojwang was found on Sunday morning hours after he had been booked there.

The team has also demanded footage of movements at the station from the time Ojwang was taken there and removed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

There are eight cameras at the station.

Four are mounted at the main entrance—two facing outward and two inward—while two others monitor the reporting area adjacent to the holding cells.

These cameras are now considered critical to reconstructing what transpired between the time Ojwang was booked and when he was found dead.

Investigators have recovered several pieces of evidence from the holding cell where Ojwang was detained.

Among them are a pair of blood-stained white Crocs, a black top with visible blood marks, a wet maroon sweater, a water bottle, a transparent plastic cup, a jug, and a tumbler.

The family on Tuesday moved the body from City Mortuary to Chiromo amid burial plans in Homa Bay.

This came as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Tuesday ordered IPOA to fast-track its investigation into the death of Ojwang and submit its findings within seven days.

DPP Renson Ingonga said he is closely monitoring the case, which has raised public concern.

Ingonga’s directive, issued under Article 157(4) of the Constitution and Section 5(2) of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, underscores the urgency of establishing the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.

IPOA had on June 9, 2025, announced that it had launched a probe into the incident.

The DPP’s call for expedited action emphasizes the need for swift and thorough investigations to ensure justice.

“In light of the foregoing and pursuant to Article 157(4) of the Constitution, and Section 5 (2) of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, Cap. 6B of the Laws of Kenya, the DPP has directed the IPOA to expedite the said investigations.

The resultant investigation file should be submitted to the DPP within 7 days for review and appropriate action,” read the statement.

“The ODPP remains committed to executing its constitutional mandate in accordance with the law, public interest, and administration of justice.”

Ojwang died while being held in police custody following his arrest over an alleged false publication against Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.

Police had initially claimed he died after hitting his own head on the wall severally.

However, an autopsy conducted on Tuesday revealed that he was assaulted and suffered multiple body injuries.

Pathologists ruled out that self-inflicted injuries caused the death. Ojwang was a teacher based in Voi.

He was hit in the head and strangled, the postmortem report said.

Further, he had multiple injuries in his hands and limbs. Ojwang, who died in custody at the Central Police Station, was assaulted and suffered multiple body injuries, a team of pathologists led by government pathologist Bernard Midia concluded.

“He had head and neck injuries. There were other multiple injuries consistent with assault,” he said. He made the revelations after completing an autopsy on Ojwang’s body on Tuesday.

He insisted Ojwang' did not hit himself on the wall as earlier reported in a police report.

“When we examined … the pattern of the injury, especially on the trauma I found on the head…. Hitting against a blunt substance like a wall would have a pattern,” he said. Midia said that in the event of one hitting themselves on a wall, frontal bleeding on the head would be seen.

“But the bleeds that we found on the scalp…on the skin of the head were spaced, including on the face, sides of the head, and the back of the head,” he explained.

The pathologist, who conducted the procedure alongside the family’s representative Mutuma Zambezi dismissed the possibility of Ojwang' injuring himself.

“When we tie up together with other injuries that are well spread on parts of the body … including the upper limbs and the trunk … Then this is unlikely to be self-inflicted injury,” Midia said.

Following mounting pressure, Inspector General of police Douglas Kanja interdicted the Central Police Station commander, duty officer, cell sentry, and all officers on duty to allow impartial investigation by IPOA.

"This is standard protocol to ensure impartial investigations. IPOA is leading the process. If anyone is found culpable, they will face the law," Kanja stated.