OCS among police officers suspended over death of blogger Albert Omondi in custody

The National Police Service (NPS) has ordered the immediate interdiction of several officers attached to Nairobi’s Central Police Station following the controversial death of 26-year-old Albert Omondi Ojwang while in police custody.

Among the officers interdicted are the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), the duty officer who was on shift the night of the incident, the cell sentry, all officers who were stationed at the report office that night and any other officer found to have been involved during the incident.

In a statement on Monday, NPS said the decision was taken to allow a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

“The NPS remains committed to upholding the rule of law, human rights, transparency and accountability within the Service,” NPS said, assuring the public that updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

Omondi’s death has sparked widespread concern and calls for justice.

He was arrested on Saturday afternoon at his family’s home in Kakot village, Homa Bay County, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Offensive post on X

According to his family, the officers informed them that the 26-year-old was being held over an alleged offensive post he had made on the social media platform X.

Initially detained at Mawego Police Station, Omondi was transferred overnight to Nairobi and held at Central Police Station.

His family said they travelled to Nairobi on Sunday to check on him, but were informed upon arrival that he had died while in custody.

“We awaited his arraignment in court on Monday, so we could follow up on the case from there. But today, his father, who came to follow up after the arrest, informed me that his son was dead. It is quite unfortunate,” the family’s lawyer said.

The lawyer said police later directed the family to City Mortuary, where they had taken Omondi’s body.

“One does not deserve to lose their life; there is the law, and we expected the boy to be processed normally and charged, then, if found guilty, punished according to the law,” he added.

'Self-inflicted injuries'

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Omondi’s father, Meshack Opiyo, said that upon his arrival in Nairobi on Sunday, officers at Central Police Station told him that his son had died from self-inflicted injuries after hitting his head against a wall in the cell.

A police report indicated that an officer on routine check found Omondi bleeding from the head.

“They immediately rushed the prisoner to Mbagathi Hospital for treatment, where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” reads the report.

The same report claimed that preliminary investigations showed Omondi, who had been booked for the offence of false publication, died after “hitting his head severally against the wall inside the cell”.

The NPS confirmed Omondi’s arrest and detention by DCI officers, adding that the officers who noticed the injuries acted immediately and rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The police service stated that it had referred the matter to IPOA for investigation, in line with statutory requirements.

“In line with statutory requirements, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an investigation into the incident,” read the statement.

The NPS further assured the public of its commitment to upholding constitutional rights and protecting human dignity, even as IPOA continues its investigation.