A damning report from Mbagathi Hospital has confirmed that Albert Ojwang’, a teacher and social justice advocate, was already dead when police officers brought him to the facility in the early hours of June 8, despite their claims of seeking urgent medical help.
According to the hospital’s statement submitted to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Ojwang’ arrived at the hospital at 2:00 a.m. Medical personnel on duty found “no signs of life,” with the attending Medical Officer officially declaring him dead on arrival. The report noted that the body showed clear signs of trauma, raising questions about the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding his time in police custody.
“The patient was brought in dead. Notification of death form filled and police advised to proceed to City Mortuary,” read part of the hospital’s statement.
The hospital’s findings directly contradict earlier police reports claiming that Ojwang’ had been found “unresponsive” in his cell around 1:39 a.m. and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Ojwang’ had been arrested on the night of June 7 and detained at Nairobi’s Central Police Station. He was known for his outspoken stance on social issues through his social media platforms. His sudden death and the conflicting accounts provided by authorities have triggered national outrage, with human rights groups and citizens demanding accountability.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an investigation into Ojwang’s death, one of 18 recent deaths in police custody currently under review. IPOA confirmed that CCTV footage from the Central Police Station had been tampered with, noting that data was altered just hours after Ojwang’ was allegedly taken to hospital.
Public protests erupted in Nairobi in the wake of the revelations, with demonstrators calling for justice and police reform. Civil society groups have decried the growing number of suspicious deaths in custody, urging Parliament and oversight bodies to act swiftly.
Ojwang’s death has now become a rallying point in the ongoing national debate over police brutality, transparency, and accountability in Kenya’s law enforcement system.
