Nairobi police interdicted after blogger Albert Ojwang dies in their custody
The sudden death of Albert Ojwang at Nairobi Central Police Station led to the interdiction of a senior officer and his subordinates.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has interdicted the Officer Commanding the Station (OCS) at Nairobi's Central Police Station, as well as all officers who were on duty the night Mr Ojwang died.
This decision was made amid public concern over the circumstances surrounding Mr Ojwang's death. He had been arrested at his family home in Migori Town and driven to the station.
“To ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Inspector General of the National Police has ordered the interdiction of the officers with immediate effect,” Mr Michael Muchiri the police spokesperson said in a statement.
A photo of Voi-based teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.
Initially, the police alleged that the deceased had hit his head against the walls of the police station cells and died while being taken to Mbagathi Hospital for treatment.
Mr Meshack Opiyo, Ojwang’s father, described how his son had been arrested at home shortly after they had finished lunch together.
He was then taken to Mawego Police Station that night, and Mr Opiyo was asked to accompany the police to Nairobi.
“The arresting police told me Albert had insulted a senior person on X,” Mr Opiyo said.
Without hesitation, the father also boarded a public service vehicle (PSV) and followed them as instructed.
However, upon arrival at Central Police Station, he was informed that his son had died in hospital.
The officers told him that his son had hit his head against a wall, prompting his lawyers to demand justice.
Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid (left) flanked by Meshack Ojwang, the father of Albert Ojwang, speaks to outside Nairobi Funeral Home on June 8, 2025.
The Nation has obtained an audio recording in which Ojwang narrates to his friend in Nairobi what had transpired.
In the audio, the friend promised to visit him the following day (Sunday), and they agreed.
At the time, Ojwang sounded lively, but he expressed concern, saying that he had never experienced such an arrest before.
In a report filed at the station and seen by the Nation, the police said that Ojwang had died by suicide.
The report explained that an officer, during a routine visit to the cell where Ojwang was being held, found him "with blood oozing from his head".
The deceased was a teacher based in Voi.