The Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nairobi’s Central Police Station and all officers who were on duty during the night when popular influencer Albert Ojwang died have been interdicted. This follows widespread public concern over the circumstances surrounding his death while in police custody.
In a statement issued in the early morning hours by National Police Service (NPS) Corporate Communications Director Muchiri Nyaga, speaking on behalf of Inspector General Douglas Kanja, the officers were interdicted to pave the way for an independent investigation.
Those interdicted include the OCS, the duty officer on shift during the night of the incident, the cell sentry, all present report office officers, and any other officer who may have had a role or presence during the incident.
The NPS indicated that disciplinary and legal action would follow depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Ojwang, a well-known social media personality, reportedly died under unclear circumstances while in police custody. According to conflicting police accounts, one version claimed he passed away upon arrival at Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi, while another indicated he died while still at Central Police Station.
This contradiction has intensified calls for accountability and transparency from human rights organisations, among them the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and members of the public. Many have questioned the exact chain of events that led to his arrest, detention, and subsequent death, with some demanding an independent postmortem and inquest.
The NPS has pledged to cooperate fully with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which has launched parallel investigations. As the probe unfolds, Ojwang’s family and Kenyans on social media, particularly X, continue to call for justice and clarity over what happened that night.
''To facilitate a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by IPOA into the tragic death of Albert Ojwang, the Inspector General has ordered the immediate interdiction of all officers on duty at Central Police Station during the incident,'' read a summary of the NPS statement.
While the extent of the injuries to Ojwang remained unclear, some questioned why police opted to rush him to Mbagathi Hospital and not Kenyatta National Hospital or other hospitals that are closer to the station.
Furthermore, beyond saying Ojwang was pronounced dead on arrival, it was unclear whether he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance or not. These are some of the details that human rights groups are demanding be made public.
Ojwang's death has since sparked widespread speculation, with police coming under fire over alleged misconduct.
Kenyans on social media have also threatened to march to the Central Police Station to demand more answers.
