IPOA given one week to probe death of Albert Ojwang in police custody
The order came shortly after an autopsy conducted on Tuesday revealed that Ojwang had multiple head injuries that were not consistent with claims that he had banged himself against a wall.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has given the Independent Policing Oversight Authority one week to complete investigations into the death of Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died while in custody at Central Police Station in Nairobi.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ODPP said it is closely following the case and directed IPOA to submit the investigation file within seven days for review and further action.
“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 ODPP said.
The order came shortly after an autopsy conducted on Tuesday revealed that Ojwang had multiple head injuries that were not consistent with claims that he had banged himself against a wall.
Government Pathologist Bernard Midia said, “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 explained that self-inflicted trauma would mostly show frontal injuries, but Ojwang had injuries on the scalp, face, sides, and back of the head.
Midia ruled out the possibility of self-harm, and the post-mortem was witnessed by the family’s pathologist, Mutuma Zambezi.
Public outrage has since erupted, with many calling for justice and government accountability.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga condemned the incident, linking it to rising cases of police brutality and abuse of power under President William Ruto’s leadership.
“This brutal murder, falling nearly on the first anniversary of the killing, maiming, and abduction of hundreds of young Kenyans, is evidence that William Ruto’s administration does not appreciate that the people of Kenya are sovereign. His administration has therefore lost legitimacy to continue being in power,” said Maraga.
He claimed enforced disappearances have increased by 450 per cent in the past year and warned that Kenya is on the brink of state failure.
“Albert’s murder is the last straw. The Ruto administration has for long now taken Kenyans for granted.”
Calling for a total government shutdown, Maraga said, “We now demand the regime shuts down, makes way for a reset to the rule of law and accountability; a restoration to the values respecting human life; and a rebuilding of our nation’s institutions that now point towards State failure.”
