MWE Correspondent
Five Kenyan police officers have been suspended following the death of a teacher and blogger, Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in police custody under circumstances that have sparked public outrage and calls for justice.
Ojwang, a 35-year-old educator and digital commentator from Homa Bay County, had been arrested over allegations of publishing false information about a senior police officer. He was transferred over 350 kilometers from Homa Bay to the Central Police Station in Nairobi, where he died shortly after being detained.
According to an initial police statement, Ojwang allegedly “hit his head against a wall” while in the holding cell. He was reportedly found unconscious and rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. However, the vague explanation and lack of a clear medical report have triggered suspicion and fueled criticism from civil society groups.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed the suspension of five officers, including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), the officer in charge of the cells, and others who were on duty the night Ojwang died. All five have been interdicted on half pay while investigations are underway.
A probe led by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has already begun, with forensic experts dispatched to the station and the City Mortuary where Ojwang’s body was taken. Early forensic observations noted visible head wounds and blood-stained clothes, raising concerns about the accuracy of the police narrative.
Human rights groups including Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) have condemned the incident. KNCHR described the police explanation as “premature and reckless,” insisting that a full independent autopsy and investigation are necessary before conclusions can be drawn.
“The evidence we’ve seen so far—injuries on the body, lack of transparency, and questionable transfer from Homa Bay to Nairobi—raises serious red flags,” said an Amnesty spokesperson.
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Ojwang’s case has become a rallying point for activists, journalists, and bloggers who are increasingly concerned about shrinking digital freedoms and growing state surveillance. His arrest stemmed from a social media post made on X (formerly Twitter), a platform increasingly scrutinized by authorities in Kenya.
Critics are questioning why such a non-violent accusation warranted a cross-county transfer, instead of local legal procedures. Many believe the blogger may have been targeted due to his outspoken views about law enforcement practices.
This incident comes in the shadow of last year’s controversial finance bill protests, where security forces were accused of abductions and excessive force. The growing pattern of deaths in police custody continues to damage public trust in the National Police Service.
IPOA Chairperson Isaack Hassan assured the public that “no stone will be left unturned” in the investigation, adding that CCTV footage from the police station and cell block would be reviewed.
