Lawyer Wills Otieno tells police to stop shifting blame in Ojwang death probe
Prominent constitutional lawyer Willis Otieno has launched a fierce critique against investigative agencies over what he terms a calculated effort to shield top police officers following the death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Speaking out in X’s official account on Thursday, June 12, 2025, amid growing public outrage and demands for justice, Otieno condemned the narrative being pushed by authorities, describing the investigation as a sham meant to divert attention from those truly responsible for the young man’s death.
“So let me get this straight: Officer Commanding Officer Samson Taalam, who reportedly refused to book Albert Ojwang into the cell because he was too injured or already dead, is now being treated as a murder suspect,” Otieno tweeted.
“But Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, the man who allegedly authorized the illegal arrest within hours, setting off the chain of brutality that led to Ojwang’s death, is walking free; untouched, unquestioned, and somehow innocent?”
Otieno’s statement follows confirmation that Central Police Station Officer OCS Taalam is under investigation for his role in what appears to be an attempt to cover up the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
The lawyer, however, insists that this approach is insufficient and deliberately misleading.
“Taalam may be guilty of trying to cover up a body, but Lagat signed the death warrant,” he said, drawing a sharp contrast between lower-ranking officers being scrutinized and senior commanders remaining unscathed.
“Someone is being thrown under the bus to shield a bigger fish. Who’s being protected, and why? Taalam, if they’ve turned you into the fall guy, speak up now before they erase you like they did Ojwang. This charade is spinning fast, but we’re scrutinizing every move.”
Swift probe
Ojwang was arrested in Homabay under unclear circumstances, for cybercrime-related offences, and transported to Nairobi, where he died in custody.
His body, now in the morgue, is said to bear marks consistent with torture, prompting widespread condemnation from civil society, political leaders, and the legal fraternity.
According to Otieno, the ongoing investigations appear to be targeting the wrong individuals while deliberately avoiding accountability at higher levels of command.
“You don’t prosecute the cleaner while protecting the butcher,” he emphasised. “If Lagat isn’t under investigation, then this entire probe is just a distraction, designed to shield the real power behind the murder.”
Otieno reflected on a deeper frustration among legal and human rights advocates who believe that police reforms have stalled and that extrajudicial actions remain commonplace, especially against young and vulnerable Kenyans.
“This isn’t just about one officer, or one incident,” Otieno noted in a follow-up conversation. “It’s about a system that continues to treat human life as expendable while those in authority evade responsibility.”
“The law must be blind to power,” Otieno asserted. “If it only bites the weak while sparing the mighty, then it’s not justice—it’s theatre.”
Calls are now growing for an independent public inquest into Ojwang’s death, with several lawmakers and civil society leaders backing the demand for external oversight.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has joined the fray, urging authorities to ensure that no officer, regardless of rank, is above scrutiny.
