Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo has urged Kenyans to remain calm as investigations continue into the mysterious death of blogger Albert Ojwang’ while in police custody. Ojwang’ died under unclear circumstances at the Central Police Station in Nairobi, shortly after being arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Homa Bay.
According to police reports, the blogger was arrested on Saturday night over allegations of publishing false information targeting a senior police officer. He was then transported to Nairobi and detained at the Central Police Station. Authorities claim Ojwang’ sustained self-inflicted injuries after allegedly hitting his head on the cell wall, with a subsequent police report stating that he was found with blood oozing from his head during a routine cell check.
PS Omollo stated that it is too early to draw conclusions about the cause of death. “The government is actively piecing together details surrounding the unfortunate incident, and we cannot pre-empt the outcome of the investigations at this stage,” he said. He emphasized that justice will be pursued through a thorough and transparent process.
However, Ojwang’s family has raised serious concerns, demanding clarity on the circumstances surrounding his sudden death just hours after his arrest. Their calls for justice have echoed across the country, triggering a wave of public outrage and prompting calls from civil society groups for an independent investigation.
In a swift move, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced the interdiction of all officers who were on duty at the time of the incident. The disciplinary action is seen as an initial step to ensure accountability as inquiries proceed.
Human rights defenders and digital activists have condemned the incident, terming it as a chilling reminder of past cases of custodial deaths that remain unresolved. They are calling on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take up the matter and conduct an impartial probe.
As the nation awaits answers, the spotlight remains on the police service, with citizens demanding justice not only for Ojwang’ but also for the protection of fundamental human rights in police custody.
