By Kemuma Achieng
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has sounded the alarm over a disturbing rise in deaths occurring in police custody, with at least 20 fatalities recorded in just four months. The revelation comes amid a high-profile investigation into the alleged torture and killing of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died last weekend while detained at Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Security on Thursday, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan made damning disclosures about the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death. Preliminary findings, he said, contradict official police claims that the 29-year-old died from self-inflicted injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall.
“The police Inspector-General’s claim was a poor attempt at a cover-up,” Hassan stated bluntly. “The evidence suggests Ojwang was tortured and killed. CCTV footage from the station was tampered with.”
Ojwang’s case has become a lightning rod for public outrage and renewed scrutiny of police accountability in Kenya. According to IPOA, 17 police officers and six civilian witnesses have already been interviewed, with all officers linked to Ojwang’s arrest, transport, and detention now being treated as murder suspects.
While IPOA lacks prosecutorial authority, Hassan stressed that the agency is working closely with other justice institutions and vowed to leave no stone unturned.
“We will not be used to whitewash police actions or enable cover-ups,” he told lawmakers. “We expect full cooperation from the police.”
Ojwang’s ordeal began on Saturday, June 7, when he was arrested in Kakot, Homa Bay County, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The arrest was linked to a social media post deemed derogatory by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat, who filed the complaint. Ojwang was transported to Nairobi, where he was placed in custody at Central Police Station. By Sunday, his family was notified of his death and told that his body had been moved to City Mortuary.
In a significant move, IPOA confirmed that Deputy IG Eliud Lagat will be summoned to give a statement as the probe enters its final stages.
“Despite the ‘blue code’ of silence among officers, we have other means to uncover the truth,” Hassan added.
A Broader Crisis of Custodial Deaths
Ojwang’s case is not isolated. IPOA’s data reveals a growing trend of deaths in custody, raising urgent questions about systemic abuse, poor oversight, and the lack of internal accountability mechanisms within the police service.
The revelations have drawn widespread condemnation from civil society and the public, with protests continuing in Nairobi and other towns. Human rights organizations are calling for a transparent, independent prosecution of those responsible, while families of other victims have come forward with similar stories of police violence.
Amnesty Kenya and other advocacy groups have jointly demanded that the findings of the IPOA investigation be made public and that criminal charges be brought against the officers involved.
A Test of Political Will
Ojwang’s death has reached the highest levels of government. On June 11, President William Ruto acknowledged that Ojwang “died at the hands of the police,” a rare and direct admission that contradicted earlier police statements and signaled potential support for reform.
But for Ojwang’s grieving family, such acknowledgments are cold comfort.
“He was a teacher, a citizen with rights. Why was he treated like a criminal for expressing his opinion?” asked Meshack Opiyo, Ojwang’s father.
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