IPOA Probes 14 Officers Over Albert Ojwang’s Death

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has intensified its investigation into the murder of Albert Ojwang, a 35-year-old teacher and social media influencer, who died in police custody on 7th June 2025.

At least 14 officers, including those from Nairobi’s Central Police Station and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), have been summoned for questioning as part of a broader probe involving 18 identified individuals.

Ojwang’s death, following his arrest from Homa Bay County over allegations of false publication, has triggered widespread outrage and demands for accountability.

The officers, who spent much of Wednesday at IPOA’s Nairobi offices, provided statements about the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death. Some arrived with legal representation, while others came unaccompanied.

Insiders revealed that certain officers claimed Ojwang was already in critical condition when brought to the station, asserting they attempted to save him upon noticing his deteriorating health.

In stark contrast, DCI personnel maintained that he was in good condition when handed over at approximately 9:35 PM on Saturday, 7th June.

The Officer Commanding Central Police Station, Samson Taalam, central to the investigation, has denied any involvement in Ojwang’s alleged torture and death.

Taalam stated he was summoned only after Ojwang’s booking and claimed he found the suspect in poor health, prompting him to arrange immediate hospital transfer.

The investigation has hit a significant hurdle due to missing CCTV footage from the OCS’s office at Central Police Station.

During a Senate session on Wednesday, IPOA Vice Chair Anne Wanjiku reported that preliminary findings indicated the footage, which could have clarified events, had been tampered with.

The autopsy, conducted on 10th June, definitively determined Ojwang’s cause of death as head injuries from blunt force trauma, neck compression, and multiple bruises, effectively ruling out the police’s initial suicide theory.

Wanjiku noted that IPOA’s next steps include analysing crime scene and body samples, collecting crucial medical records from Mbagathi Hospital—where Ojwang was pronounced dead—and interviewing additional witnesses and family members.

Taalam’s lawyer, Felix Keaton, expressed his client’s full cooperation with IPOA, committing to ensuring justice is served.

However, DCI boss Amin Mohammed, during the same Senate grilling, unequivocally identified Taalam as the prime suspect in the case.

Mohammed highlighted that investigations showed Taalam initially declined to book Ojwang, a decision raising significant questions about his conduct.

“It has been confirmed that report office personnel called the OCS, but he refused to proceed with the booking,” Mohammed told senators, adding that Taalam’s role as station commander makes him a key figure in the case.

The transfer of Ojwang from Homa Bay to Nairobi was directly linked to the alleged offence occurring in the capital.

The probe’s findings are expected to be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within seven days, along with recommendations on potential charges.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat’s 4th June complaint to the DCI about malicious publications on an X account, “Pixel Pioneer,” has added yet another layer to the complex and unfolding saga.