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Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has moved to detain a police officer for 21 days as investigations continue into the death of blogger, activist, and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody. The death has sparked a national outcry, with demands for justice, accountability, and an end to police brutality in the country.
On Thursday, Police Constable James Mukhwana was arraigned in court as the first primary suspect in the case. IPOA’s application to hold him in custody aims to prevent interference with ongoing investigations, including a scheduled bail hearing set for next week.
Mukhwana, according to IPOA, was in charge of the jail cell keys at Nairobi’s Central Police Station on the night Ojwang allegedly died following severe torture. In their application to the court, IPOA claimed investigations revealed a coordinated effort to conceal the circumstances of Ojwang’s death, including deliberate tampering with CCTV footage at the station. “The suspect, together with others still at large, actively participated in a cover-up,” IPOA’s court filing noted.
In a dramatic turn of events, two additional suspects are now in custody. Among them is the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nairobi Central, Samson Talaam, who was arrested on Thursday after a brief manhunt. The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin, had informed the Kenyan Senate that Talaam refused to officially book Ojwang upon his arrival at the station, a claim Talaam initially denied, instead sticking to the now-discredited police account that Ojwang had inflicted injuries upon himself.
Further revelations have widened the scope of the case. Twenty-three individuals have been interrogated, including 17 police officers and six civilians. Notably, a technician confessed to being paid Ksh3,000 (about $23) to delete CCTV footage from the night Ojwang died. This admission has further fueled public suspicions of a systematic cover-up.
Meanwhile, public pressure is mounting for high-level accountability. A petition seeking the suspension of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat was filed this week. Petitioners argue that Lagat, who initially filed the cybercrime complaint that led to Ojwang’s arrest, should be considered a person of interest in the death. They fear that his continued presence in office could compromise the integrity of investigations.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has defended Lagat, insisting he need not step aside unless specifically implicated by IPOA. However, public skepticism remains high, with many Kenyans accusing top security officials of protecting their own.
President William Ruto broke government silence on the matter earlier this week, issuing a rare public admission that Ojwang died “at the hands of the police,” directly contradicting earlier official statements. “This incident is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Ruto said in a statement on June 11. His remarks came shortly after Inspector General Kanja retracted the initial claim that Ojwang died by suicide, conceding under Senate questioning that the death was not self-inflicted.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen promised senators that justice would be served. “We will ensure that every individual involved in this heinous crime is held accountable, and that no one will interfere with the investigations,” Murkomen said.
Protests erupted in Nairobi on Friday as hundreds of demonstrators, including human rights activists and ordinary citizens, demanded justice for Ojwang. At least two vehicles were set ablaze as riot police dispersed crowds with tear gas. International attention has also turned toward the case, with both the European Union and the United States calling for a transparent and independent investigation.
The tragedy has intensified demands for deeper reform within Kenya’s police service. Public anger surged further after an autopsy conducted by government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia confirmed that Ojwang died from injuries consistent with a violent assault — not self-harm. “The cause of death was a head injury, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries spread across the body,” Dr. Midia told reporters, decisively contradicting police claims that Ojwang fatally hit his head against a cell wall.
The case has exposed systemic issues within Kenya’s security apparatus. Just days before his death, Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay while visiting his rural home, and later transferred over 350 kilometers to Nairobi under allegations of publishing false information online about Deputy Inspector General Lagat.
Another Kenyan activist, Kevin Moinde, was also detained last week over similar accusations, but was released on Tuesday for lack of evidence. His brief disappearance after being taken into police custody sparked a wave of concern on social media.
Former Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi bluntly accused Lagat of orchestrating Ojwang’s murder. “Eliud Lagat is the principal suspect. It matters not whether the killing was executed by him or in his absence — he should be arrested and charged with murder,” Havi declared on X.
As IPOA leads the investigation, many Kenyans remain skeptical, citing the agency’s slow track record in prosecuting police brutality cases. The Law Society of Kenya recently criticized IPOA for the sluggish pace of accountability following last year’s fatal anti-government protests. “Only six cases have been concluded. This delay is unacceptable,” LSK President Faith Odhiambo said.
With nationwide protests swelling and international scrutiny growing, the Ojwang case has become a litmus test for Kenya’s commitment to police accountability and human rights.