Albert Ojwang’s killing: IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan apologises for joint presser with police
Speaking in Mombasa during the ongoing police accountability workshop for journalists, the IPOA boss acknowledged that his appearance at the briefing gave the wrong impression and admitted he should not have attended.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Chairperson, Ahmed Issack Hassan, has admitted he was wrong to attend a press briefing called by the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of teacher Albert Ojwang’ at Central Police Station.
It was at the briefing on June 9 that police reiterated Ojwang’ had committed suicide, with the IG confirming that his deputy in charge of the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Eliud Lagat, had filed the complaint that led to the teacher’s arrest on June 7 over alleged misinformation shared on social media.
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Speaking in Mombasa during the ongoing police accountability workshop for journalists, the IPOA boss acknowledged that his appearance at the briefing gave the wrong impression and admitted he should not have attended.
“I was called by the IG: ‘Please come and join us.’ I said I was going to come to the station to see the cell where he was locked up. I should have said no,” he said, adding that his presence at the briefing was coincidental.
The IPOA boss faced criticism from Kenyans, civil society groups, and Members of Parliament for seemingly siding with senior police officers at a time when one of them was under public scrutiny over the teacher’s death.
“I was asked questions like, ‘Why did you stand with them at a press conference in a police station?’ That was wrong, a big mistake, and I take responsibility for it,” he told journalists.
Also present at the briefing were Deputy Inspector General Lagat and his counterpart, Gilbert Masengeli.
Issack Hassan’s move cast doubt on the independence of the authority, which is heavily relied upon by Kenyans to hold rogue police officers to account.
The gravity of his presence has forced IPOA to issue multiple explanations and apologies, with today marking the third public apology on the matter.
Issack Hassan first apologised before Parliament on June 18 and later at an International Justice Mission (IJM) event on June 23.
Ojwang’ (31) was arrested on June 7 in Homa Bay over alleged defamation of Lagat on social media.
He died overnight on June 8 at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, in what officers initially claimed was a suicide, allegedly caused by banging his head against a wall.
That claim was later dismissed following a post-mortem examination, which confirmed he had suffered head trauma, neck compression, and extensive bodily injuries consistent with physical assault.
Following mounting public pressure, Lagat took leave shortly afterwards to allow investigations, before returning to office in mid-July. The case remains active in court.
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