Charles Owino: No police officer would allow someone to die in their custody

The head of the National Communication Centre, Charles Owino, has spoken out about the troubling death of Albert Ojwang hours after his arrest.

During a morning TV interview on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, he assured the public that such incidents are treated with utmost seriousness.

“No police officer, starting from the officer commanding police station, would allow someone to die in his custody,” the former police spokesperson insisted as he addressed concerns over inconsistencies in police accounts regarding Albert’s death.

Reflecting on his time as a police officer, Owino stressed that two of the most serious issues for the police are escapes from custody and deaths in detention.

“Death in police custody is taken very, very seriously,” he stated, recalling his early training under his Officer Commanding Station (OCS).

Owino shared a key protocol from those days.

“One instruction he gave us when we were new was that never admit a person in custody who has been brought by any other service, unless it’s somebody from your station.”

Officers were required to interview detainees, asking, “Are you in good condition? Have you been tortured? Have you been beaten?” If a detainee showed signs of injury, even from mob justice, they were to be taken to the hospital immediately.

Owino stressed the importance of these standards.

“One of the things police dread most is having somebody die in your custody. It’s a serious, serious issue,” he noted.

He also added that the National Police Service is the only one Kenya has, making its reputation critical.

“When such incidents happen, it puts everybody in a very awkward position, starting with the police service itself,” he said, explaining that the police have a duty to build public trust.

A death in custody raises questions like, “If I’m not safe in custody, then what happened?”

Questions surrounding Albert’s death

Addressing Albert’s case, Owino revealed he spoke to the officers who arrested him in Homa Bay who confirmed that they handed him well to the police station.

“They told me they drove the guy well, fine, and they handed him over to the police station while he was fine,” he said.

He also contacted the officer in charge of cybercrime, who confirmed Albert was in communication with family and friends until reaching Nairobi.

“If our colleagues from DCI are saying we brought him fine up to the police station and he was received when he was okay, then what happened in police custody?” Owino asked. “This person was in police custody, and from police custody to the morgue.”

With heightened political tensions adding to the scrutiny, Owino called for a swift and transparent investigation.

“I believe the IG and most of the DCI will be on top of this investigation so that we can get to know exactly what happened and who is responsible for this,” he said.

Owino warned that repeated incidents like this could further damage the police’s image.

“If we keep on having situations where police image keeps on going down, then it will be a very big problem,” he said.

Owino also said that Albert was taken from Homa Bay County by approximately three DCI officers, possibly including a driver. While the Inspector General (IG) and other officers have faced criticism for not initially clarifying details, Owino noted that the IG likely received briefings from the DCI and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) before addressing the public.

Some officers, including the OCS, have been interdicted. Owino concluded by stressing the need for clarity and accountability.

“It must come out clearly what happened and who did it,” he urged, as the public awaits answers to ensure justice for Albert and restore confidence in the National Police Service.

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