Top cops at Central Police Station suspended over Albert Ojwang's death

The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has now suspended senior police officers at Nairobi's Central Police Station, over the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under unclear circumstances while in custody.

Among those suspended are the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police Station, the Duty Officer present on the night of Ojwang's death, the Duty Sentry during the night in question and the Cell Sentry on duty at the time.

All officers who were on duty at the Report Office on the night of the incident and any other officer found to have been on duty or otherwise involved during the incident have also been suspended.

IG Kanja says the suspension will ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

"The NPS remains committed to upholding the rule of law, human rights, transparency and accountability within the Service. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses," reads the statement.

Ojwang's death has sparked outrage across the country, with an earlier statement by police saying the teacher died after hitting his head against the cell wall.

Officers at the Central Police Station took him to the Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, according to police.

"NPS confirms that Albert Omondi Ojwang was lawfully arrested by DCI detectives for false publication and placed in custody. While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against the cell wall," reads the statement.

Earlier on Sunday, Ojwang's father, Meshack, described how officers arrested his son from their home in Migori.

Speaking to the media outside Central Police Station, the grieving father shared a harrowing account of the events that led to Albert’s arrest in Migori on Saturday afternoon.

He revealed that several officers, dressed in plain clothes, showed up at their home and handcuffed his son without providing any clear reason.

"They were even laughing when they came to arrest him. My son didn’t even get a chance to eat before they took him away in handcuffs," said the distraught father.

The late Ojwang, an only child in his family, was a teacher and father of a two-month-old baby.