KNCHR rejects police claims on Albert Ojwang’s death, demands Independent probe

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has dismissed claims that Albert Omondi Ojwang’ harmed himself while in police custody. The commission criticized the premature police narrative and called for an independent forensic investigation.

Police arrested Ojwang’, a social media influencer, in Homa Bay on June 7, 2025, over an alleged post on X. They later transferred him to Nairobi and held him at Central Police Station. His family arrived on June 8 to check on his case but learned that he had died. Police said they had already moved his body to City Mortuary.

Officers claim Ojwang’ hit his head against the cell wall, causing fatal injuries. They said an officer found him bleeding and rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. KNCHR disputes this explanation, arguing that a forensic review must come first.

KNCHR officials visited City Mortuary and reported visible injuries on Ojwang’s face, hands, and the back of his head. His swollen head, along with blood near his mouth and nose, raised concerns about the true cause of death. The commission, alongside the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), launched a separate investigation.

Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has interdicted several officers present at Central Police Station during Ojwang’s detention. These include the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), the duty officer on shift, the cell sentry, and all officers managing the report office at the time.

Ojwang’s death has fueled public outrage. Civil rights groups and legal experts demand accountability. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) urge authorities to ensure transparency in the investigation.

KNCHR has vowed to uncover the truth. “Every death in custody must be treated with the utmost seriousness,” said Beatrice Wanjiku of KNCHR. “People do not simply walk into a police station and come out dead.”