President William Ruto has said he received the news of the death of Albert Omondi Ojwang, a 31‑year‑old teacher and social media influencer who passed away while in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, with ‘utter shock and deep dismay.’ The President acknowledged the profound national concern over the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death. His statement came shorltly after the beginning of Senate proceedings on the matter where IG Douglas Kanja, IPOA and CS Kipchumba Murkomen were being grilled.
Mr Ruto offered his “heartfelt condolences to Mr. Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son”. The President described Ojwang’s death as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” emphatically condemning “the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality, that may have contributed to his untimely death”
The incident has ignited public outcry. Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay on June 7 by DCI officers over allegedly defamatory content about a senior police official. He was then transferred to Nairobi—more than 360 km away—where he was booked at Central Police Station at 9:35 p.m., and within hours was pronounced dead at Mbagathi Hospital
In addressing the disturbing sequence of events, Ruto firmly reminded the National Police Service of the weighty duty entrusted to them. “It must be borne in mind by every member of the National Police Service that whenever they take a person into custody, they assume a tremendous responsibility for that individual’s safety, security, and well‑being, and must make every effort to discharge this duty conscientiously and without fail”
Reiterating his commitment to professional reforms, Ruto noted that while he supports institutional autonomy for the police, this must be balanced with accountability. He stressed that the service not only has a duty to enforce the law, but also a responsibility to uphold human rights and root out misconduct from within its own ranks.
To ensure transparency and credibility in the ensuing inquiry, the President issued direct instructions: “I therefore call on the National Police Service to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and to take every necessary measure to facilitate a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the death of Ojwang”
Amid calls for calm and restraint, Ruto cautioned against hasty judgments that could jeopardize the fairness of the investigation. “As we mourn his passing, let us patiently but vigilantly follow the progress of the investigations without making premature judgments or drawing conclusions that could compromise the process and its outcome,” he urged. He added: “I fully expect that the truth about what happened to Ojwang will be established in due course, and that justice will be served”
Ruto’s statement comes amid disturbing revelations: genealogies of blunt-force trauma, blood-stained clothing, signs of a struggle, and interference with CCTV footage under the review of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority. The now-public autopsy report led retired Chief Justice David Maraga and others to condemn the death as torture, strangulation, even murder, and demand governmental accountability
President Ruto’s statement appears intended to reassure the public that the state remains committed to due process. His message places clear demands for police responsibility, oversight cooperation, judicial integrity, and justice for Ojwang’s grieving family. Whether this will translate into substantive reform and accountability remains to be seen, but for now, the highest office in the land has called for calm, compassion, and transparency.
President William Ruto Calls For Investigations After Senate Pressure
Inspector General Douglas Kanja began his testimony under oath in the Senate early on this Wednesday, June 11, 2025, offering a step-by-step narrative of the arrest and custody of Albert Ojwang. He explained that the process began on June 7, when DCI officers acting on a defamation complaint from Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat arrested Ojwang in his Homa Bay home. Kanja confirmed that the DIG had filed a formal complaint alleging Ojwang had “tarnished” his name, prompting swift action by authorities.
Ojwang was taken first to Mawego Police Station in Homa Bay before being transferred, at an unexplained distance of over 400 km, to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he was booked at around 9:35 p.m. under OB number 136/7/6/2025. Kanja emphasised that Ojwang underwent a questioning process, was placed in a holding unit, and had access to routine welfare checks, stating unequivocally during his Senate address that “Ojwang was not mistreated while in police custody”
Continuing his chronology, the IG told the Senate that the following Sunday night, officers discovered Ojwang unconscious in his cell and immediately rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital; he was pronounced dead on arrival. Officials on the ground observed what they believed to be head injuries, speculating he might have “hit his head on the wall” inside the cell—a version the IG relayed in his narration. To address growing public scrutiny, Kanja announced the interdiction of the Central Police Station OCS and all duty officers present that night, pledging cooperation with IPOA’s ongoing investigations.
Shortly thereafter, IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Mwangi took the floor, also under oath, with her testimony offering a more forensic counterpoint to Kanja’s account. She began by dismissing suicide as a cause of death, citing the autopsy and early findings. Critically, she revealed that CCTV recordings from the OCS office had been tampered with during Ojwang’s booking and subsequent hours. IPOA teams promptly secured the DVR, conducted forensic scene visits, collected blood spatter evidence, seized policing documents, and recorded statements from the five DCI officers involved as well as other potential witnesses.
Mwangi provided a detailed IPOA timeline: on June 4, DIG Lagat lodged his complaint; June 5 saw the arrest of Ojwang’s associate, Kelvin Muinde, at Kamukunji; June 7 was the arrest and transfer of Ojwang; and June 8 marked his death at Mbagathi—with IPOA only notified later via media and police signal, prompting immediate investigative measures. She stressed that the authority had already collected biological samples, medical records, and statements, and was now working through remaining steps—sending evidence for forensic analysis, interviewing additional personnel and hospital staff, and finalising a comprehensive report for Senate review.
Throughout the session, Senators pressed hard on both sides. Questions ranged from why Ojwang was transferred such a long distance, to what exactly was captured or erased on CCTV, to whether punching holes in internal processes or norms played any role. One senator bluntly challenged Kanja: “Who told IG Kanja that Albert Ojwang hit his head on the walls of the police cell?” Meanwhile, Senator Kajwang emphasised the necessity of sworn testimony, warning that “if we go the Kamukunji way, we’ll only get political statements…people hit their heads on walls, and there will be no consequences”
IG Kanja maintained that all steps taken—from the initial arrest, through the questioning process, and subsequent interdictions—were lawful and in line with institutional policy. IPOA, for its part, reaffirmed its dedication to impartial scrutiny and transparency, stating that tampered CCTV footage and forensic evidence point toward foul play and must be investigated thoroughly before conclusions are drawn.
By the end of the Senate session, the picture remains unresolved but sharpened: IG Kanja asserts proper custodial procedure and no misconduct; IPOA counters with signs of interference and evidence consistent with a violent death. The Senate has tasked both institutions with following through under oath, with Senators vowing to monitor every step until truth and accountability are secured.
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