IPOA identifies officers who picked Albert Ojwang from Homa Bay to Nairobi
Ojwang died while in custody, and a post-mortem conducted on June 10 found that he suffered a head injury from blunt force trauma, neck compression, and had multiple bruises on his body.
Five officers have been named as the ones who arrested teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, whose death in custody is now under investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
According to IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku, the team picked up Ojwang from the Leaders Centre in Homa Bay County on June 7 at around 2:30 pm.
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The officers were identified as Sergeant Sigei, Sergeant Wesley Kirui, and Police Constables Dennis Kinyani, Milton Mwanze, and Boniface Rabudo.
“The team arrested the deceased and took him to Mawego Police Station,” Wanjiku told Senators on Wednesday.
She added that he was later booked out and transferred to Nairobi, where he was held at Central Police Station.
Ojwang died while in custody, and a post-mortem conducted on June 10 found that he suffered a head injury from blunt force trauma, neck compression, and had multiple bruises on his body.
IPOA has also obtained statements from the five officers, as well as other potential witnesses and one detainee who was held at the same station.
However, Wanjiku informed the Senators that the CCTV systems located at the Central Police Station had been interfered with.
“This, honourable speaker, the autopsy report and our preliminary investigation rule out the theory of suicide,” Wanjiku noted.
The IPOA Vice Chairperson explained that the case began when Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat filed a complaint on June 4, claiming he had been targeted by false and malicious posts on X, formerly Twitter, by a user named Pixel Pioneer.
Investigations led to the arrest of Kevin Muinde on June 5 in Borabu, Nyamira County.
During questioning, police officers identified Ojwang as a person of interest.
Wanjiku informed the House that all relevant documents from Central Police Station were collected, and CCTV footage was seized and sent for forensic analysis.
Samples collected from Ojwang’s body are yet to be analysed, and a reply from Mbagathi Hospital on whether he was treated there is expected.
In conclusion, IPOA says it will also record more statements from Central Police officers and family members and compile a full report.
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