Grand cover-up: Tampered CCTV, solitary cell, and glaring gaps in Ojwang’s death

New details have emerged revealing how police officers allegedly attempted to cover up the death of teacher-cum-blogger Albert Ojwang’.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority, which is probing the incident, disclosed that key CCTV cameras at Central police station were tampered with.

Had the cameras been functional, they would have shown Ojwang’s physical condition upon arrival at the station as well as any officers who visited him while in custody.

Ipoa vice chairperson Anne Wanjiku revealed these findings during her appearance before the Senate plenary, alongside top security officials led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

Other officials present included Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja, DCI director Mohamed Amin, and National Police Service Commission vice chairperson Edwin Cheluget.

“The CCTV cameras could have shown his condition, but they were tampered with,” Wanjiku told senators.

When Ipoa officers inspected the station, they found the power cable to a crucial camera disconnected. After reconnecting it, the cameras began functioning, suggesting deliberate interference to conceal evidence.

Wanjiku said the probe, which enters its third day today, would be concluded in under 10 days. Thereafter, the file would be forwarded to the DPP.

Yesterday, President William Ruto broke his silence on the murder of Ojwang, calling on the relevant agencies to move with speed to bring the culprits to book.

IG Kanja, who faced a barrage of questions from senators, said the ongoing investigations by Ipoa would provide the details for detaining the suspect in a solitary cell.

“[The reason] he was booked in that cell alone is something that investigations will tell us. We have a number of cells in that station; was it that there were more [empty cells]?” he said.

CS Murkomen, who equally took the heat over the death of Ojwang’ and mysterious killings allegedly by police officers under his tenure, said police Standing Orders provide for the circumstances under which a suspect can be held in solitude.

Senators also challenged the police’s initial claim that Ojwang' died by suicide after hitting his head against the cell wall.

They prevailed upon the IG to apologise to the country for misleading Kenyans about the cause of death.

“It is not true. He did not hit his head against the cell wall. I issue an apology on behalf of the National Police Service."

A postmortem report released on Tuesday revealed that Ojwang' died from blunt force trauma to the head and manual strangulation.

Pathologists ruled out the police narrative that he died from self-inflicted injuries, casting further doubt on official accounts of the incident.

“He had head and neck injuries. There were multiple other injuries consistent with assault,” pathologist Bernard Midia concluded.

Lawmakers criticised inconsistencies in the police timeline and questioned the sudden deletion of Ojwang’s X handle.

Ojwang' was reportedly arrested at his home in Homa Bay around 1.30pm on Saturday, following a complaint by DIG Eliud Lagat over posts made on an X account, alleging that he was under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for corruption.

The EACC denied investigating Lagat, prompting investigations and the arrest of Ojwang’ and another suspect, Kevin Muinde, who has since been released after the DPP poked holes in the investigations report.

Upon arrest, Ojwang’ was first booked at Mawego police station before being transferred to Nairobi, where he was registered at Central police station at 9.32pm.

On Sunday morning, police allegedly found him unconscious in the cell and took him to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Lawmakers questioned why Ojwang' was transported over 350 kilometers to Nairobi, despite the presence of competent police stations and DCI officers along the route.

They suspected an attempt to reconstruct evidence, pointing out inconsistencies in the timeline leading to Ojwang’s death.

Nyandarua Senator John Methu highlighted discrepancies in the DCI’s actions regarding communication with the Communications Authority of Kenya.

He noted that on June 5, DCI officers wrote to CAK requesting information about the X account linked to Ojwan', received a response the same day, and reportedly traveled to Kisii, arriving at 12.55 pm.

“If the letter was sent at, say, 8 am and the response received at 8.15 am, then the officers drove to Kisii in under three hours,” Methu said.

“This is impossible. It raises serious doubts that this evidence was reconstructed and is not an accurate record of what happened to Ojwang.”

The lawmakers put DCI boss Amin and Kanja on the spot to explain the rationale for ferrying the suspect to Nairobi instead of holding and questioning him in a nearby station.

Kanja said the alleged offence was committed in Nairobi, thus the reason to bring him to the capital.

Amin said the crime committed by Ojwang' was of national jurisdiction, raising further questions.

“If the offence was a crime of national jurisdiction, it means that he can be tried anywhere. What was he brought to Nairobi for?” Speaker Amason Kingi posed.

On the deletion of Ojwang’s accounts that allegedly had the offensive post against DIG, Amin said his officers were not responsible, adding that the Ipoa probe would reveal the person responsible.

The senators also sought to know why DIG Lagat – the complainant – was yet to step aside to allow for a proper investigation.

“Why is DIG Lagat still in office, yet it was his complaint that led to the arrest and death of this young person?” Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang said, adding that his continued stay in office could be part of the plot to interfere with the investigations.

“He should not only step aside, but also go to the police station, write a statement and have his fingerprints taken,” he added.

They argued that, being a top officer in the service, Lagat could use his position to interfere with investigations.

“The DIG made a complaint like any other person. There was no preferential treatment.  DIG has not interfered with the investigations,” Amin said.

Further, the senators demanded to know why Kanja had not interdicted the DCI officers who picked Ojwang’ from Homa Bay and drove him to Nairobi.

The security bosses said they would move into action if the probe points to any of the officers – or the DIG himself.

“Why have you found it difficult to arrest these officers? Why are the men who were with Ojwang' from Homa Bay before he was later declared dead still  in service?” Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale posed.